Story and photo By Ro Mohammed Ridowan

The conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military junta has created a deadly trap, one in which Rohingya families are forced to suffer, flee and fight for survival. Among them is 19-year-old Rusana, a newly married young woman whose life was torn apart when her husband, Shohid Alam was abducted and killed by the AA.

Rusana, daughter of Mohammed Islam is from MaungNi village (မောင်နီရွာ) in Maungdaw, Arakan State. At just 16, she married Shohid Alam of Paddang village (ပဒင်ကျေးရွာ) in Southern Maungdaw. Shohid was educated, optimistic and determined to build a better future for their family. Their happiness grew with the birth of a baby boy with joy in the middle of rising unrest.

As fighting intensified between the AA and the military junta, nights became sleepless and homes unsafe. “Hoping to escape brutal attacks, we moved to my parents’ house in MaungNi village,” Rusana said.

Weeks later, on 21 July 2024, during Eid-ul-Adha, Shohid traveled to his native village to meet his brother, recently released from Buthidang Jail after unjust imprisonment during the 2017 crackdown. Many Rohingya, including Shohid had been jailed or sentenced without reason and clear evidence of deliberate persecution.

Shortly after leaving, Rusana received a devastating phone call.

“I was told that my husband along with six others was arrested by the Arakan Army while returning to me. Later, we learned they were killed.”
Rusana cried through broken tears

By August 2024, AA artillery assaults targeted Rohingya villages. Rusana’s family fled to Ali Para, seeking temporary safety. But ten days later, the AA captured more than 1,000 people including her family and forcibly gathered them in Pan Taw Phyin village.

They eventually returned to Paddang but arrests of young men became constant. Fearing for their lives, Rusana’s father arranged for the family to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh.

On 15 August 2024, after a dangerous journey, they reached the Bangladesh border. But instead of safety, they were met by gangs of boatmen. “They searched us and took our valuables and even forced me and one of my sisters to be naked. They took 1.5 million MMK and 8.5 ticals of gold hidden in our clothes.” Rusana recounted, “During this abuse, the men in our group were locked away in a dark room.”

With help from a compassionate guide, Rusana and her family eventually reached a relative’s shelter in a refugee camp. Although they escaped immediate danger, new struggles began regarding food shortages, lack of healthcare, insecurity, trauma and the pain of losing Shohid.

Like Rusana, there are many unresearched victims who lost their belongings and family members under the attack of Arakan Army AA. The silence of the world is the dely of justice and peace on Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State in Myanmar.

Edited By Anuwar Sadek