By: Camp Correspondent
April 17, 2025 | Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Alarming new reports suggest that human trafficking of Rohingya refugees is escalating both in Rakhine State and within the refugee camps in Bangladesh, with growing evidence pointing to the involvement of the Arakan Army (AA) and other armed groups in facilitating these networks.
Sources inside Myanmar and Bangladesh say that desperate Rohingya families, facing dire conditions and insecurity, are increasingly turning to traffickers who promise safe passage to countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. These networks, often spanning from Cox’s Bazar to AA-controlled territories in Myanmar, have become highly structured and exploitative.
Desperation Fuels Trafficking
Rohingya rights activists based in Cox’s Bazar camps say that the continued denial of basic rights—such as employment, education, and mobility—has created a sense of hopelessness among the refugee population. Since 2017, many families have lived in overcrowded shelters with no access to long-term opportunities or legal protection.
“The youth see no future. Families are pushed to risk everything—selling land, livestock, even taking loans—just for a chance to escape,” said a community leader from Camp-7.
In Myanmar’s Buthidaung Township, Rohingya residents report facing dual oppression—military surveillance on one side, and forced labor, arbitrary arrests, and extortion by AA forces on the other. Multiple families have reported missing male relatives and rising cases of debt bondage, as they pay traffickers in a last attempt to flee the cycle of exploitation.
Trafficking Routes and Armed Group Involvement
Eyewitnesses and ground reports confirm that traffickers charge between 3 to 10 lakh kyat for the initial phase of travel from Maungdaw and Buthidaung to Pauktaw, a region reportedly under AA influence. From there, individuals are transported to Yangon, then onto international routes via Thailand or Malaysia, with the total cost per person reportedly reaching 15 to 17 lakh kyat.
“These are not isolated cases. This is a network—well-structured and protected,” said one Rohingya activist familiar with the smuggling routes.
Key figures, such as Mawlawi Maung Saud, have been named as intermediaries, allegedly transporting individuals from Maungdaw to Pauktaw under AA facilitation. Reports suggest further coordination with PDFs (People’s Defence Forces) and local militias to move people safely through checkpoints.
Yangon and Beyond: Urban Trafficking and Corruption
Trafficking activities in Yangon are concentrated in neighborhoods such as Mingaladon, Thaketa, and Thingangyun, where traffickers are said to operate with tacit approval from local authorities, often through bribery. Victims report that security checkpoints are passed without checks due to pre-arranged payments.
Cases Emerging in Bangladeshi Camps
Even inside Bangladesh, similar trafficking cases are on the rise. In Camp-5, one recent case involved a Rohingya youth named Abdur Rahamat, son of Kaurim Ullah, who was trafficked from the camp to Rathedaung Township in Myanmar. Dozens of similar cases have been reported across other camps, reflecting a wider breakdown in camp security and rising desperation.
Calls for International Investigation and Protection
As these networks expand, human rights organizations and Rohingya advocacy groups are urging the international community to investigate the role of the Arakan Army and other actors in trafficking operations. They also stress the urgent need to create legal and safe migration pathways and to enhance protective frameworks within both Rakhine State and the refugee camps in Bangladesh.
“If the world continues to look away, more Rohingya will fall into the hands of traffickers. This is not just a smuggling issue—it’s a humanitarian crisis shaped by statelessness, militarization, and neglect,” said a regional rights observer.
