The 84th anniversary of U Ottama Day on Saturday was not commemorated in many parts of Arakan State due to security concerns, according to residents.

The Arakan Front Party (AFP) in a statement on Saturday called on the military and Arakan Army (AA) to release the political prisoners they are detaining, including two senior party officials.

A man from Tharyargon Village in Maungdaw Township said: “The two defectors are ethnically Arakanese. So, they can only defect to the Arakan Army, I think.”

As the coup has dissolved the parliament, agreements reached between those groups and the regime are not legitimate, critics argue.

The junta’s Religious Affairs and Culture Ministry is planning to make a pagoda digital directory at the Shitthaung Temple in the ancient town of Mrauk-U, Arakan State.

A junta soldier and two policemen arrested by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) near Zinchaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, were released on Friday afternoon.

“My daughter was left by the two women at the express bus terminal in Yangon. My daughter met an acquaintance, and she then phoned us from a police station in Yangon,” said Ma Thin Thin’s father.

Bahrain has expressed interest in importing avocados from Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association (MAVO).

Since early August, affected cows have been showing symptoms including rashes, swollen limbs, drooling and skin shedding, with some succumbing to their ailments.

The Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association has supplied wholesalers in 25 towns including Yangon, Mandalay, Pathein and Sittwe townships with palm oil to be sold at a maximum 2 percent higher than the reference price.

In northern Arakan State, betel is mainly grown in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, and Mrauk-U townships, and many betel farms were destroyed by the storm. Growers are also struggling to get leaves for propagation.

“That day, the girl was playing with her sisters near their house. He gave the other children 1,000 kyats each and told them to buy snacks. He then raped the girl,” said neighbour Daw Sandar Win.

Dr. Aye Maung said the AFP would issue a statement regarding the matter on September 9, U Ottama Day, seeking the release of the party’s vice chairman U Kyaw Zaw Oo and advisor U Kyaw Lwin.

“Nearly 200 chickens were killed by the storm. The coop was also destroyed. I have no money to restart my business,” said Ma Khin Moe Nwe from Kyettawpyin Village in Sittwe Township.

Arakanese philanthropists used International Day of Charity on September 5 to call for allowing those doing social work in Arakan State to help freely, without facing any hindrance.

To bridge the gap between incomes and expenditures at a time when prices are high and jobs are scarce, many people turn to gambling in hopes of acquiring large sums by investing little.

Ko Sai Zaw Thaike was arrested in Sittwe, Arakan State, on May 23 on his way to Rathedaung to report on the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha.

Many of the detainees are the breadwinners in their families, which are now suffering from financial hardships.

The issuance of licences to those who stockpile rice will begin in the third week of September in order to stabilise domestic rice prices and to facilitate people’s livelihoods, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).