By: Camp Correspondent
March 22, 2025
A trawler carrying dozens of Rohingya refugees capsized in the Naf River near Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf in the early hours of Saturday, leaving at least 40 people missing.
The boat, believed to be carrying between 60 and 70 Rohingya, sank around 2:30 a.m. as it attempted to cross into Bangladesh from conflict-hit northern Arakan, where intensified fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar military forces continues to displace civilians.
25 Survivors Rescued, Search Continues
According to Lt. Col. Md Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of Teknaf 2 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 25 people have been rescued alive so far. Rescue operations are ongoing with the help of local fishermen and volunteers.
Eyewitnesses say the trawler was overcrowded and poorly equipped for such a dangerous crossing. Survivors reported that many on board were women and children fleeing from villages recently targeted by airstrikes, landmine incidents, and forced conscription in northern Maungdaw and Buthidaung.
Fear of Mass Drowning
No bodies have yet been recovered, but officials and locals fear that the missing may have drowned in the strong currents of the river. The Naf River, which separates Bangladesh from Arakan (Rakhine State), has long been a perilous route for Rohingya refugees escaping persecution, military raids, or forced recruitment by armed groups.
“This river has become a graveyard for many of our people,” said a local Rohingya resident in Teknaf. “They are fleeing because they have no option to live with dignity in their homeland.”
Ongoing Crisis in Arakan
The incident comes amid a fresh wave of displacement from Arakan, where the Arakan Army has recently seized control of multiple Rohingya villages and is accused of imposing forced labor, extortion, and violent evictions. Caught between the AA and the Myanmar military council, Rohingya civilians continue to suffer with little protection or access to aid.
Many of the refugees who attempted the river crossing on Saturday were reportedly trying to reach relatives in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar or seeking safety from renewed fighting.
Call for Urgent International Attention
Human rights groups and Rohingya leaders have repeatedly called for safe corridors, humanitarian assistance, and international monitoring inside Arakan, as well as protection for those fleeing across borders.
This latest tragedy underscores the desperate conditions that continue to force Rohingya to risk everything—often their lives—in search of safety and basic human dignity.
