Breaking News: Rohingyas’ Shops at Maungdaw Municipal Market on Fire

M.S. Anwar | November 23, 2013

Maungdaw, Arakan: Maungdaw Municipal Market was set ablaze at around 7PM today (i.e. 23rd November 2013) and is still burning. Most of the shops at the market are owned by Muslims, whereas only three to four are owned by Rakhines. Many shops are said to have been burnt down and the remaining shops are being looted by Rakhine extremists.

“The muinicipal market at the downtown of Maungdaw caught fire at around 7PM today.

Something unexpected had happened just before that. Government supplies electricity from 6:30PM to 11PM. But today, the electrictity came at 6:30PM as per schedule. And power was taken out some ten minutes after that. And the downtown sudddenly became totally dark.

Soon after, the shops at the market caught fire. The fire started at the western-part of the market and later spread to the other parts. The western part of the market is facing a Rakhine village called “Dak-Rwa” under Quarter 1 of Maungdaw. Hence, most of the part of the downtown of Maungdaw was looking like hell.

Rohingyas tried to approach the market to put out fire at their respective shops. The authority prevented them from approaching. Besides, Rakhine extremists are also attacking those Rohingyas who are trying to go to the place.

Two fire-brigades are present at the burning market. The fire has slown down. But Rakhines are looting the remaining shops. There are around 400 shops at the market. Only three to four shops are owned by Rakhines and the rest are Rohingyas’ shops. Each shop worth around Kyat 20 Millions” said a local Rohingya in Maungdaw.

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