Arakan Army restricts Rohingya medical travel to Bangladesh

Suspension of travel recommendation letters in Buthidaung raises concerns over access to medical treatment for Rohingya patients seeking care across border

MUSLIM NETWORK TV—NOVEMBER 5, 2026

© File Photo

YANGON, Burma (MNTV)  — Rohingya Muslims seeking medical treatment in neighboring Bangladesh are facing fresh uncertainty after an Arakan Army (AA) camp in Burma’s western Rakhine State reportedly suspended the issuance of recommendation letters required for their travel.

The restriction was reported in Buthidaung Township, where Rohingya residents seeking treatment across the border have been attempting to obtain travel documents from the armed group, which controls much of the region.

According to Rohingya Khobor, a local source said a man who visited an AA camp on November 3 to request a recommendation letter was informed that the issuance of such documents had been temporarily suspended.

AA personnel reportedly cited airstrikes by Burma’s military junta and uncertainty over travel safety as reasons for the decision. However, the explanation could not be independently verified, and it remains unclear whether the suspension applies to other AA-controlled areas.

Among those affected are two Rohingya women, aged 55 and 42, from Keyadaung village, who were reportedly waiting for recommendation letters to travel to Bangladesh for medical treatment.

Their medical conditions and the urgency of their treatment needs have not been established. It is also unclear whether they have access to alternative healthcare services within Rakhine State.

Local residents expressed concern that delays in obtaining travel documents could prevent patients from accessing medical services in Bangladesh, particularly those requiring treatment unavailable in their communities.

The reported restriction has raised questions about the movement of Rohingya civilians under Arakan Army administration, where access to travel permissions can determine whether residents are able to seek essential services outside their communities.

There is no confirmed information about when the suspension began, how long it will remain in effect or whether patients requiring emergency medical care can obtain exemptions.

The incident comes amid continuing insecurity in Rakhine State, where Rohingya Muslims have endured years of persecution, displacement and restrictions on freedom of movement.

The Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine armed organization fighting Burma’s military junta, has expanded its territorial control across the region, placing large Rohingya populations under its administration.