Maungdaw


Maungdaw is a town in Rakhine State, in the western part of Myanmar. It is the administrative seat of Maungdaw Township and Maungdaw District. Bordering Bangladesh, Maungdaw is home to one of 2 official border trade posts with Bangladesh. This post is called Maungdaw Port.
Maungdaw is west of Buthidaung. The two towns are separated by the Mayu Mountains and are connected by two tunnels built in 1918. The district around Maungdaw is home to a large Rohingya population.

History

Maungdaw was historically named after Burmese viceroy, Bo Nga daw. The town was also sites of battles between Konbaung Burmese Army and British forces in the First Anglo-Burmese War. In January 1825, following Burmese retreats from crossed the Naaf River to their main post in Maungdaw. The British forces divided into two division: the first, under General Joseph Wanton Morrison advanced into Maungdaw creek and stormed enemy stockades and whilst forces under General McBean proceeded along the coastlines of Maungdaw to pursuit the Burmese army, royal navy and army fully occupied the town as enemy fleeing eastward along the Mayu mountains as royal navy continued their operation commanded under Commodore Hayes who left on 16th of February. At Maungdaw, General Morrison garrison possessed large quantities of grains and huge stockades left by U Sa forces under Burmese.
In August 2024, the civilians trying to flee the town from violence related to the Myanmar civil war were attacked in an artillery and drone attack. The victims were predominantly Rohingya, trying to flee fierce fighting in Maungdaw by crossing the Naf River into Bangladesh. The number killed by the strike may have been between 150 or 200, with possibly 300 more injured. A number of local Rohingya activists blamed the Arakan Army for the strike, which the group denied, and blamed the government for.
On 8 December 2024, the Arakan Army took complete control of Maungdaw and the Bangladesh–Myanmar border after a prolonged 6 months battle in Maungdaw.

Demographics

The majority of the populace, about 80%, are Rohingya people, while the remainder of the populace consists of other ethnic groups, including Rakhine, Bamar, Daingnet, and Mro.

Education

As of 2016, there are eight high schools, 10 middle schools, 16 post-primary schools and 125 primary schools.

Economy

The official border trade post with Bangladeshi town of Teknaf opened on 5 September 1995. In 2022, total trade volume at the border post stood at.

Notable places