by Hafizur Rahman
By Ro Maung Shwe
Thirteen-year-old Furkahan, a Grade 7 student and the eldest child of a Rohingya refugee family, is among those feared dead or missing after the recent boat tragedy near Malaysia. His family in Jamtoli Camp now lives in unbearable uncertainty—torn between the hope that he is alive and the fear that he may not return.
A Family Escaping Violence in Myanmar
Furkahan’s father, Abdul Hoque, was once a farmer in Aung Seik Pyin (Dombhai) village, northern Maungdaw Township, Myanmar. During the Myanmar military’s 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya population, his home was burned, his village razed, and his community destroyed. Facing persecution and the threat of death, Abdul Hoque fled to Bangladesh with his wife and six children.
“We lost everything,” he recalled. “But at least we were alive.”
Life in the Refugee Camp
In Bangladesh, the family settled in Jamtoli Camp-15, Block-G, joining nearly a million other Rohingya displaced by the violence. Life in the camp was harsh. Jobs were scarce, food was limited, and children grew up without the certainty of education or a future.
Despite the hardship, Abdul Hoque refused to let his children work. Instead, he dreamed of sending them to school. To keep Furkahan learning, he paid a home tutor 1,000 taka per month, even when it meant skipping meals. “I wanted my son to study,” he said. “He loved books more than anything.”
The Disappearance of Furkahan
On October 26, Furkahan went missing. The family searched every corner of the camp, fearing the worst. Two days later, a phone call shattered their lives. A human trafficker based in Teknaf told them that Furkahan was “on the way to Malaysia” and demanded 350,000 taka for his “safe arrival.”
The family was stunned. Their 13-year-old son had been taken without consent—one of many Rohingya children lured or trafficked into dangerous sea journeys by smugglers promising a better life.
The Boat Tragedy
On October 29, the boat carrying Furkahan and nearly 90 other Rohingya refugees set out toward Malaysia. There were no further updates until November 9, when heartbreaking photos and videos appeared on social media showing that the boat had sunk.
According to media reports, three small boats were involved in the journey; one has been confirmed lost, while the other two remain unaccounted for. Most passengers are still missing.
A Family Searching for Answers
Abdul Hoque and his wife, Rashida, now spend every day waiting for news. “We cannot sleep or eat,” Rashida said. “We only pray to hear something—anything—about our son.”
They have appealed to Bangladeshi and Malaysian authorities, humanitarian agencies, and rescue teams to share information about survivors and the missing. Each hour without news deepens their fear.
Missing Child Information
- Name: Furkahan
- Father’s Name: Abdul Hoque
- Mother’s Name: Rashida
- Age: 13 years
- Education: Grade 7
- Present Address: Jamtoli Camp-15, Block-G
- UNHCR Data Card (FCN): 231589
- Place of Origin (Myanmar): Aung Seik Pyin (Dombhai), Maungdaw Township
- Father’s Occupation: Daily wage worker
- Contact Number: 01865849656
A Community Living Without Choices
Furkahan’s story reflects the desperation driving many Rohingya families to take perilous sea routes. With limited education, no work rights, and an uncertain future, thousands attempt the dangerous journey each year, often falling victim to traffickers or deadly storms.
For Abdul Hoque’s family, survival is now tied to a single unanswered question—whether their eldest son is still alive somewhere on the vast sea.
“We escaped death in Myanmar,” Abdul said quietly. “But now the sea has taken our son.”
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