Fifty-year-old Hakim Ali from Myanmar’s Buthidaung township is uncertain of the fate of his wife, five sons, and two daughters. After weeks of attempting to flee, on the night of August 4, he crossed the Naf River by boat and sought refuge at a relative’s house in Block E of the No. 24 Rohingya camp in Nayapara, Teknaf. Hakim paid a hefty sum of 500,000 kyats to a trafficking network, who arranged his passage from the Parangpuru area of Myanmar to Bangladesh. He was among 10 others who fled on the same boat.
During an interview last Sunday, Hakim shared his ordeal. He recounted how his home was destroyed during a clash between Myanmar’s military junta and the Arakan Army. After being captured by the Arakan Army, Hakim was detained and tortured for three months. Upon his release, he made several attempts to escape, eventually connecting with a broker in Teknaf, who guided him to the mangroves of the Naf River. After paying 500,000 kyats, Hakim was placed on a boat and taken to Bangladesh.
Tragically, Hakim heard that while his seven children survived, his wife was killed in a bombing. The ongoing violence has claimed many lives, forcing countless Rohingya to flee. Most are gathered at the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, desperate to escape.
Rahanuma Akhtar, a 52-year-old woman from a village near Maungdaw, also recently fled to Nayapara camp with the help of traffickers, paying the same 500,000 kyats. She arrived in Teknaf four days ago, seeking safety with her son who has been living in a camp in Bangladesh since 2017. Rahanuma’s house was burnt down during the clashes, and she has been separated from her husband, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Of the 300 new arrivals in the camp last week, 30 to 32 have confirmed they paid between 450,000 to 500,000 kyats to brokers for their passage.
Nurul Alam, the community leader (Majhi) of Block E in the No. 26 camp in Nayapara, confirmed the arrival of new Rohingya refugees. He stated that the new arrivals are sheltering with relatives, though authorities have yet to register or track them.
On Sunday afternoon, Habib Ullah, a new refugee in the Lambashia camp in Ukhiya, recounted his harrowing journey. The Arakan Army killed his father before he and his family fled for their lives, crossing the Naf River into Bangladesh. His home in northern Maungdaw is situated in an area ravaged by bombings. Thousands of Rohingya are still waiting to cross into Bangladesh from Parangpuru and other villages near the riverbanks, desperate to escape the brutal conflict.
On the previous Friday, Rohingya families attempting to cross into Bangladesh described the devastation in Maungdaw, with villages like Daliyapara and Sudapara now empty of Rohingya residents. Both the junta and the Arakan Army are using heavy artillery, grenades, mortars, and drones, along with airstrikes, to wage war. Civilians are fleeing in all directions, with many gathering at the border. Brokers charge about 20,000 Bangladeshi taka (around 25,000 kyats) per person for safe passage across the river.
According to local leaders and residents, since the beginning of August, more than 20,000 Rohingya have entered Bangladesh through multiple points along the border. Key areas of entry include Jadimora, Dhum Dhum, and Nayapara, with more refugees gathered in northern Parangpuru and southern Fadongcha on the Myanmar side, awaiting their turn to cross.
As of now, the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and Coast Guard have increased patrols to prevent further crossings. However, some Rohingya manage to evade security forces and reach Bangladesh. Many are hiding in rented homes in Ukhiya and Teknaf, while others are seeking refuge in overcrowded camps.
The chairperson of the Arakan Society for Peace and Human Rights, Dr. Jubair, expressed frustration over the international community’s indifference to the Rohingya crisis. “The ongoing battle between the Arakan Army and the junta is a cover for ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya. The UN and world leaders must act now to prevent another wave of genocide.”
Mujibur Rahman, president of the Arakan Rohingya Youth Coalition, echoed these sentiments. He warned that the current violence is even worse than the 2017 crackdown. “The Arakan Army is using Rohingya villages as battlegrounds, ensuring the annihilation of the community. Northern Maungdaw has become the epicenter of these violent confrontations.”
Residents of Teknaf and Ukhiya have reported hearing explosions and witnessing aerial bombardments from across the border, shaking homes in Bangladesh. “The sky is filled with planes, and the sounds of mortars and grenades are terrifying. It feels like the war is right here,” said Mohammad Amin, a local businessman on Shahporir Island.
While the Bangladesh government has tried to prevent further influxes, BGB commander Lt. Col. Mohiuddin Ahmed noted that exact numbers of those crossing remain unclear. Officials are working to repatriate as many as possible.
Despite these efforts, over 8,000 Rohingya have reportedly crossed into Bangladesh since early August, adding to the already immense strain on the country, which is hosting over one million refugees.
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