ARSA Chief Jununi and 5 Associates Arrested in Narayanganj

Staff Reporter

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-11) has arrested Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, the chief of Myanmar’s Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), along with five associates in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj.

During the operation, RAB recovered Tk 21.39 lakh in cash, a sharp knife, and a steel chain with sharp teeth and handles on both sides.

On Tuesday, March 18, RAB spokesperson Lt. Col. Ashikur Rahman confirmed the arrests. A court has already granted a 10-day remand for the detainees.

The arrests were made on Monday night, March 17, from the Bhumipalli residential area in Siddhirganj.

On Tuesday, a case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Illegal Entry Act by Shahadat Hossain, the unarmed inspector of Siddhirganj Police Station. The accused were later produced in Narayanganj court.

The arrestees include Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi (48), Mostak Ahmed (66), Salimullah (27), Asmaul Hosna, Hasan (15), and Moniruzzaman (24).

Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahinur Alam confirmed that RAB-11 handed over the detainees to the police.

Jununi, born in Karachi, Pakistan, and raised in Mecca, received militant training in Pakistan and Libya under the Taliban. Over a decade ago, he entered Arakan with his associates and launched attacks on Burmese police and military forces, establishing ARSA’s presence.

In 2016 and 2017, ARSA’s attacks resulted in the deaths of 70-80 Burmese soldiers, leading to a brutal crackdown on the Rohingya population. Analysts believe ARSA operates in favor of Myanmar’s military junta and Western interests, exploiting the emotions of ordinary Rohingya Muslims.

Even Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have accused ARSA of being active in the camps, engaging in arms smuggling, drug trafficking, extortion, targeted killings, abductions, and prostitution to fund their operations, all under Jununi’s control.

Jununi, often seen in Al-Qaeda-style videos with armed guards, has threatened to overthrow the Sheikh Hasina government and occupy Bangladesh.

During the violent July-August movement, BNP and Jamaat leaders in Cox’s Bazar allegedly used thousands of Rohingya refugees. This came to light after several Rohingya were arrested in late July.