A report alleging that Bangladesh's military is training members of two Rohingya armed groups inside Bangladesh provides no publicly verifiable evidence establishing such a programme.
The Global Arakan Network published an article claiming that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) are receiving extensive training from Bangladesh's military.
The article attributes the allegation to an analyst but does not provide documentary evidence, photographs, named military personnel, training locations or independent witnesses that would independently corroborate the claim.
What is known
ARSA and RSO are among armed organisations associated with the Rohingya conflict and the Bangladesh-Myanmar border region. Their presence and activities around the Rohingya refugee camps have been reported as security concerns.
Bangladesh has also taken direct action against ARSA figures.
In March 2025, Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion arrested ARSA leader Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi and other suspected members. Reuters reported that Jununi was arrested on charges including murder, illegal entry, sabotage and militant activities.
Bangladeshi media reported that the arrests occurred during operations in Narayanganj and Mymensingh and that several of those arrested were subsequently placed on remand.
In September 2025, Border Guard Bangladesh rejected allegations that it had links with ARSA and RSO. The BGB said it had no connection with the groups and cited arrests and other security measures taken against them.
What is not established
The publicly available material reviewed for this fact-check does not establish that Bangladesh's military is conducting an organised training programme for ARSA or RSO.
In particular, the allegation has not been supported by publicly released military documents, independently verified photographs or video, identified training facilities, named instructors or corroboration from an independent security or intelligence source.
The absence of public evidence does not, by itself, prove that no covert contacts or activities have ever occurred. Such activities, if they existed, could be difficult to verify independently. But it means the allegation should be described as unverified, rather than as an established fact.
Why the distinction matters
The existence of ARSA or RSO activity in Bangladesh or along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier does not demonstrate cooperation with the Bangladesh military.
Bangladesh's security agencies have, in documented cases, taken action against ARSA members, including the group's leader. That record is inconsistent with presenting a formal military training relationship as an established fact without additional evidence.
Bottom Line — Claim not proven
The claim that the Bangladesh military is training ARSA and RSO inside Bangladesh has not been supported by sufficient publicly verifiable evidence. Available reporting confirms the presence and activities of Rohingya armed groups and confirms that Bangladeshi authorities have arrested ARSA figures, but it does not establish a Bangladesh military training programme for either organisation.
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