By: Hafizur Rahman
July 26, 2025
A boat carrying 20 Rohingya refugees, including women and at least one child, landed on the northern coast of Saint Martin’s Island on July 25, after rough sea conditions forced them to divert their journey. The group had been fleeing ongoing violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
According to local officials, the vessel reached the island’s shore around 11 a.m. Law enforcement agencies were alerted and responded promptly. The group is now under the custody of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and temporary shelter has been arranged at a local hotel. Food was provided with assistance from a nearby religious organization.
“They landed here not to enter illegally, but to save their lives,” said a local union official. “The sea was rough. Once the weather calms, they may be sent back to Myanmar.”
However, human rights defenders and observers have expressed concern over such potential deportations, warning that forced returns would violate international principles of non-refoulement, especially as these individuals are fleeing active conflict zones.
Escaping Violence in Rakhine
The group reportedly fled from Buthidaung Township in northern Rakhine—an area that has seen intense clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) since November 2023. Locals report that Rohingya families are facing targeted violence, mass arrests, and extortion under AA control.
“In Buthidaung, we couldn’t survive anymore. Every day they came to threaten, arrest, or demand money,” said one man in the group. “We had to leave, even if it meant risking our lives at sea.”
Community sources say the fear in Maungdaw and surrounding areas is growing, with arrests rising and families disappearing. Many Rohingya are now attempting to flee across borders or by boat, despite monsoon season risks.
Over the past 18 months, an estimated 150,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine, seeking shelter in Bangladesh—joining over one million already confined to overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
“Now it’s not just individuals. Entire villages are preparing to leave,” said a community leader from Teknaf. “They see no future in Rakhine, only danger.”
A Humanitarian Dilemma
The arrival of new Rohingya groups by sea continues to place the Bangladeshi government and humanitarian actors in a challenging position. While Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, international bodies have urged authorities to treat arriving Rohingya with dignity and ensure their safety.
Rohingya Khobor will continue monitoring developments on Saint Martin’s Island and other border points as the humanitarian situation in Rakhine continues to deteriorate.
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