Bangladesh police seize ARSA military uniforms in Chittagong factories

On 17 May 2025, the Bangladesh police seized 20,300 military uniforms from a factory named Ringvo Apparels in Nayarhat, Bayezid Bostami, Chittagong. The police arrested three individuals, including the owner of the garment factory.

The events were published in several media outlets including the Daily Samakal on May 25, 2025. The news also mentioned that a person named Monghlasing Marma Prakash alias Mong had placed an order for the manufacture of uniforms on behalf of the KNF under a contract worth Tk 2 crore.

After the news was published, many people expressed the opinion that such a large number of uniforms cannot be from the KNF. They can be at most 100 to 200 in number. The entire Bawm population is only about 13,000. Moreover, the people of the Bawm population are in such panic that none of them is able to order these uniforms and are not even able to contact any lawyer for the release of ordinary Bawm people including women and children in prison, according to a source.

On the other hand, multiple sources say that these seized uniforms are more likely to be for ARSA or both ARSA and RSO. Sources say that since the recent changes in the situation in Arakan, there has been a massive increase in the activities of ARSA in some areas of Bandarban. The military administration has banned the entry of journalists, not to mention the movement of ordinary people in those areas. The army has completely concealed what is going on there.

The source further said that although there was an armed conflict between ARSA and RSO in the past, there is no conflict between them at present. A negotiation has already been reached between the two armed Rohingya organizations at the initiative of the Pakistani High Commissioner in Bangladesh.

It is learnt that ARSA’s activities have intensified in areas such as Lemuchari, Bahir Math, Painchari, Kurikhyong border area of Dochari union in Naikhyongchari upazila of Bandarban, Chakdhala, Amtoli Math, Hamidia Para, Ashar Toli, Jamchari, Tumbru, Baisphari, Bhajabonia, Gorjan Bonia border area of Ghumdhum union, etc. However, ARSA does not have permanent camps in these areas and operates by setting up tents and changing locations, the source said.

On the other hand, another armed group of Rohingya, the Arakan Solidarity Organization (RSO), has the largest presence in the Krokyang Chakpara forest of Aliyanjhiri Notun Chakpara village of No.277 Krokyang Mouza in Dochari Union of Naikyongchari and in the deep jungle of Washakhali Jhiri Agar of No.274 Dochari Mouza. It is known that they have been receiving armed training there for a long time.

Sources also revealed that Rohingyas are now working in various high-ranking positions like Managing Directors in various garment factories in Chittagong. Locals believe that if the actual addresses of the officials and employees of the places where the uniforms were found or their biodata are checked, it will be possible to understand who actually ordered these uniforms.

It has also been found that the uniforms seized from Chittagong are almost identical to the uniforms already used by the armed members of ARSA. However, there are also similarities with the uniforms of members of the militant organization ‘Jamaatul Ansar fil Hindal Sharqia’ who received military training from the KNF. On the other hand, the current uniform of the KNF is similar to the uniform of the Bangladesh Army.