Bangladesh arrests notorious Rohingya militant leader

A Rohingya militant leader accused of ordering attacks on Myanmar security forces in 2017—an incident that triggered a humanitarian crisis—was arrested Tuesday in Bangladesh, police said.

Ata Ullah, 48, the head of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), was captured along with five associates by the Rapid Action Battalion on the outskirts of Dhaka. Another four members were detained in Mymensingh, police added.

Militant leader behind 2017 attacks

Ata Ullah, who emerged nearly a decade ago as the charismatic leader of ARSA, was believed to have personally ordered the 2017 attacks on Myanmar police posts. The crackdown that followed forced 750,000 Rohingya to flee into squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh.

He first gained global attention through videos posted online, where he appeared flanked by masked gunmen, vowing to liberate the Rohingya from persecution in Myanmar.

Violence in Rohingya camps

ARSA has been accused of killings, abductions, and torture in Bangladesh’s refugee camps, where militant groups battle for control. Ata Ullah has also been linked to the murder of Rohingya civic leaders who opposed his group.

His arrest comes as a new report from rights group Fortify Rights documented 65 deaths in 2024 due to violent clashes among Rohingya militant groups. The watchdog called for international action, citing war crimes concerns.

Mounting humanitarian crisis

The arrest follows growing concerns over the dire conditions in Rohingya camps. UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited last week, vowing to prevent further aid cuts that could slash food rations to just $6 per person per month starting in April.

Bangladesh, struggling to support its vast refugee population, has urged the international community to step up humanitarian assistance.