Maungdaw market attacked

The Maungdaw central market was set on fire on Saturday evening by several troublemakers from the Rakhine community, alleged Anwer (not his real name), a shopkeeper from Maungdaw central market.

“Nobody was allowed to go near the market expect security force and Rakhine,” he reported.

Another shopkeeper by the name of Hakhim also confirmed the market was closed off to the Rohingya community even though they own most of the shops in the area. By the time the firemen arrived to put out the fire some of the shops had already burnt to the ground. 

Before the fire broke out the electricity was cut off and there was no mobile network available in Maungdaw, said Ali Ahmed. 

Another shopkeeper reported seeing Rakhine gangs looting the shops while security forces did nothing. Eventually the army was called in to control the situation, but by then most of the looters were nowhere to be seen.

A source informed Kaladan Press Network that similar actions against Rohingya properties took place several hours later in Sawmawna village, about three miles away. This time a mosque was set on fire. The fire was later extinguished by firemen.

Members of the Rohingya community also reported being locked out of the area when the mosque was attacked.