By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar | May 5, 2025
Amid escalating conflict and worsening humanitarian conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, more than 118,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in the past year, according to the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC).
These newly displaced Rohingya cite extreme food shortages, denial of medical access, forced labor, and widespread violence as driving factors behind their flight.
“We had no food left. Our homes were looted. They made us dig trenches for the army,” said Abdul Gafur, who arrived last month from northern Maungdaw.
Mass Exodus Documented, Registration Complete
Most of the influx occurred during June and July of 2024, when intensified clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar junta swept across northern Rakhine.
According to RRRC Additional Secretary Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, registration of all 118,000 arrivals has now been completed across various camps in Ukhia and Teknaf.
“They are receiving food aid, but no final decision has been made about permanent shelter,” Rahman told reporters.
Testimonies from the Border: Raids, Bribes, and Brutality
Refugees from villages such as Sikderpara, Lodayng, Uchingjong, Nakpura, and Kulipara have shared stories of systematic abuse:
- Raids where entire communities were rounded up
- Extortion and bribe demands at checkpoints
- Forced conscription to build outposts for armed groups
- Looting of food supplies and denial of safe passage
“Even with AA’s permission, you could be detained, questioned, or disappear. There’s no safety left,” said Amir Hamza, whose family escaped via the Naf River.
Crossings Continue Through Remote Border Points
At least 22 active crossing routes have been identified along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border:
- 4 in Ghumdhum Union (Naikkhongchhari)
- 5 in Palangkhali Union (Ukhia)
- 13 across Hoikyang, Hnila, and Sabrang (Teknaf)
While some newly arrived families are now in formal camps, many are staying with relatives or attempting onward journeys by sea toward Cox’s Bazar, Banshkhali, Anwara, Maheshkhali, and even Patenga.
On Saturday, 35 Rohingya, including women and children, were detained by RAB in Patenga after arriving by boat from Myanmar.
Border Patrol Intensified, But Movement Continues
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has increased patrols across the 45-kilometre stretch from Hoikyang to St. Martin’s Island, particularly to intercept night-time movement and smuggling.
Yet, despite these efforts, irregular crossings continue—a testament to the desperation faced by those fleeing targeted violence and starvation in Rakhine.
No Progress on Repatriation
Bangladesh now hosts over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees across 33 camps, with nearly 800,000 arriving since August 2017.
“These brutalities are forcing people to flee their homeland. If this situation continues, safe repatriation will become even more impossible,” said Mohammad Jobayer, President of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Humanity.
Despite years of diplomatic negotiations, not a single Rohingya has returned home voluntarily and safely in the last eight years.
A Growing Crisis with No End in Sight
As Rakhine State falls deeper into fragmentation—with the AA now controlling large swathes of territory—Rohingya civilians remain caught between power struggles, militarization, and statelessness.
With each passing month, the window for dignified return narrows, and the burden on Bangladesh and the refugee community continues to grow.
