By 
Mariam Phutkaradze
A view of Rohingya Camp, by SH Saw Myint via Unsplash, 2022.
The Rohingya militant leader who organised direct attacks on Myanmar security forces in 2017 has been captured by the Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion. The arrested ARSA leader is accused of alleged war crimes, abductions and torture in Rohingya camps.
Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, also known as commander chief of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has been captured together with his nine associates on suspicion of terrorism and illegal entry. The Rapid Action Battalion arrested Ataullah the same day as Southeast Asian NGO, Fortify Rights, released a report on ARSA’s alleged war crimes, abductions and torture in Rohingya camps where millions of Rohingya refugees are sheltering.
The militant leader is known for forming an insurgency group – ARSA – against the prosecution of Rohingya in 2012. In August 2017, ARSA’s directed attacks on Myanmar security forces triggered a brutal military crackdown on the Rohingya, forcing 750,000 refugees to flee to Bangladesh.
Years after, Ataullah was accused of involvement in the killing of Muhib Ullah, one of the advocates of Rohingya’s repatriation to Myanmar at the US White House (ARSA chief, 10 others held, placed on remand, 2015). According to the International Crisis Group, ARSA has also joined Myanmar’s military junta to fight the Arakan Army, an ethnic-armed organisation seeking greater autonomy from the Myanmar government (Chowdhurry, 2025)
Over the years, ARSA’s clashes with rival militant groups in Rohingya camps led to the killings, abductions, trafficking and extortion of dozens of refugees. Fortify Rights urges the Bangladeshi government to investigate the potential war crimes committed by ARSA members, which may warrant prosecution by the International Criminal Court.
Sources and Further Readings
Alam, S. S. (2025, March 18). Bangladesh arrests notorious Rohingya militant leader. Barrons. <https://www.barrons.com/news/bangladesh-arrests-notorious-rohingya-militant-leader-50ede993
ARSA chief, 10 others held, placed on remand. (2025, March 19). The Daily Star. <https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/arsa-chief-10-others-held-placed-remand-3851896
Chowdhury, K. R. (2025, March 21). Arrested ARSA leader blamed for violence against Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Benar News. <https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/bengali/arsa-rohingya-camps-arrest-03212025151855.html
Fatimah, M. (2025, March 19). Bangladesh arrests leader of Rohingya insurgent group. genocidewatch. <https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/bangladesh-arrests-leader-of-rohingya-insurgent-group
Paul, R., & Ganguly, S. (2025, March 20). Rohingya in Bangladesh pray for release of arrested insurgent leader. Reuters. <https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/rohingya-bangladesh-pray-release-arrested-insurgent-leader-2025-03-20/
WION. (2025, March 19). Rohingya militant leader Ata Ullah and associates captured | World News | WION [Video]. <YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79nk9Ch9-Xo
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