Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Chief Minister of Arakan State, U Hla Maung Tin, arrived in Maungdaw yesterday at noon, according to an official from Maungdaw.
“The chief minister arrived to Buthidaung yesterday with a special boat at 11 a.m., then he traveled to Maungdaw where he discussed different topics with the Burmese border security force (Nasaka) officials.”
“The chief minister and other officials such as Colonel Htein Lin, Member of Parliament (MP) from the army, as Minister for the Ministry of Security and Border Affairs, are visiting northern Arakan.”
The Chief Minister met with Maungdaw District government officials at Thiri Mangahla Hall today at 9 a.m., said an officer who participated in the meeting.
“This is my first time meeting with Maungdaw District officials, and I hope you will work with me,” the Chief Minister said in the meeting.
“In the meeting, a school teacher asked the minister to promote Maungdaw Middle School into a high school, and the primary schools from Maungdaw municipal into middle schools,” said a teacher from Maungdaw.
The Chief Minister met the religious leaders (Moulana) of the Rohingya community at the Maungdaw Administrative Office at 10 a.m. with U Jahangir, MP of Region and State Parliament, according to an elder from Maungdaw.
“There were more than forty religious leaders participating in the meeting.”
“In the meeting, the leading religious leader, Moulana Syedul Amin, explained to the Chief Minister about the problems facing the Rohingya community, and asked for solutions. The discussion was translated by Moulana Abdul Hakhim into Burmese. ”
“Moulana Syedul Amin asked the minister about education, movement restrictions, religious persecution, and marriage restrictions.”
“Moulana Syedul Amin requested the same rights other ethnic communities enjoy for movement, education, religious freedom, and marriage.”
“The chief minister asked the immigration officer about the travel restrictions. The officer replied that he only issued 45-day travel permits. He asked the Nasaka director about marriage restrictions, and the director said that the Nasaka issues permissions regularly.”
“The minister said that Maungdaw Juma Mosque should be built, and he will issue the permission for the religious building.”
The minister left to visit Maungdaw North after finishing the meeting.
