Rakhine Man Goes Missing on Way to Work in Yangon

Myat Lin, Narinjara, November 10, 2026

An Arakanese (Rakhine) man living in Mayangone Township, Yangon, has been missing for over a week after disappearing on his way to work, according to his family.

The missing individual, Ko Maung Myint Than, is the son of U Thein Tun Oo and Daw Ma Ma Hla from Kyauk Maung Village in Arakan State's Wirathani (Pauktaw)Township.

A family member told Narinjara News that Ko Maung Myint Than left his home in Mayangone Township around 10:00 AM on October 31, heading toward Hlegu Township for work. He reportedly vanished near North Okkalapa Township.

He previously worked in Malaysia to support his family but was arrested, detained for lacking proper legal documentation, and subsequently deported back to Myanmar.

“He lives with his family in Mayangone Township, Yangon, and works in the Nawaday Ward of Hlegu Township. He went missing on his way to work, and we have been unable to contact him since,” a family member said.

The family expressed deep anxiety, noting that they reported the disappearance to the local police station but have received no updates or progress.

Local residents report that unexplained disappearances have become a frequent issue in the commercial capital. A woman from Hlaing Tharyar Township told Narinjara that young people vanish without a trace on a daily basis.

“Young people are disappearing in Yangon every single day; they simply vanish the moment they step outside. This isn’t limited to the Rakhine community, it affects the Bamar people and other ethnic groups as well. There are many cases where people have gone missing without anyone knowing what happened to them,” she said.

Another Rakhine resident in Yangon suggested the military junta may be behind the disappearances to enforce its mandatory military service law, noting that authorities provide no transparency.

“We have no idea where they have ended up. Some parents are suffering from severe anxiety and emotional distress. If they are taken away for forced conscription, the parents should at least be informed,” the resident stated.

Similar cases continue to emerge across Yangon. Last month, a woman working in Shwepyitha Township and two young Rakhine women who traveled to work in East Dagon Township also went missing. Their families have had no contact with them since and continue to search for them.