Rohingya Shops Demolished by Militant Arakan Army in Buthidaung Now Rebuilt and Auctioned on Same Site

Six shops near Phayon Chaung Bridge in Buthidaung Township that were demolished in March 2026 are now being rebuilt on the same site and prepared for auction.

Rohingya Monitor learned from local sources that the original shops stood beside the bridge and had been run for more than 30 years by residents of Phayon Chaung and Kywe Tet Pyin. Authorities said the structures were too close to a 100-foot-wide road and ordered them knocked down.

Residents said the demolition was carried out on the orders of the administrator of Administrative Zone 5 under ULA control. The shops had been the main source of income for the affected families. Their removal caused serious economic hardship.

On 24 October 2026, new shop units were under construction on the exact same location and were being made ready for sale through auction. Local sources told Rohingya Monitor that the project is being overseen by a joint arrangement involving the Zone 5 administrator, the village chairman and another local individual.

Residents have questioned the consistency of the decision. They pointed out that the original shops were destroyed for violating the 100-foot road rule, yet new shops are now being built on the same land.

One resident asked why the 100-foot restriction seemed to apply only when local villagers built the shops, but not when the new buildings were raised for auction.

Some community members have expressed concern that the process may reflect uneven treatment.

Affected residents have called on the authorities to give a clear and transparent explanation. They want to know the exact boundary of the road reserve, the legal reason for the original demolition, and why new shops are being constructed and auctioned on the same site.