Muslim Business Owners Allowed to Compete in Public Tenders Under Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government

News January 2, 2026

Images from the 2026 fiscal year general business license tender ceremony held in the final week of December 2025 in Mrauk-U District. (Photocrd: Reporter Zaw Gree/APM)

Muslim business owners who were long excluded from public tender processes in Arakan State have now been allowed to participate in open bidding organized by the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (APRG), according to reports.

The tender for general business licenses for the 2026 fiscal year was held in Mrauk-U District from December 28 to 30. For the first time in generations, Muslim entrepreneurs were eligible to submit bids alongside other business owners.

Image from the 2026 fiscal year general business license tender ceremony held in the final week of December 2025 in Mrauk-U District. (Photocrd: Reporter Zaw Gree/APM)

Muslim participants expressed pleasure and gratitude for being included, describing the move as a reflection of the APRG’s stated policy of granting equal citizenship rights to all residents of Arakan, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

An administrative official from Mrauk-U District told Arakan Princess Media that extending equal rights to Muslim residents contributes to stronger inter-communal harmony between Arakanese and Muslim communities, adding that the policy demonstrates a commitment to non-discrimination in practice.

Reports also indicate that in areas under APRG control, Muslims have begun accessing equal rights in the fields of religion, education, and travel — rights they say were previously denied under successive Myanmar governments.

Source@ArakanPrincessMedia