U.N. Agencies Report Mass Disappearance
At least 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea en route to Malaysia, according to a joint statement from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The trawler reportedly departed from Teknaf, in the southern district of Cox’s Bazar, carrying a large number of passengers. The agencies said overcrowding, strong winds and rough sea conditions caused the vessel to lose control and sink.
Limited Rescues Confirmed
Bangladesh Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Com. Sabbir Alam Suzan said nine people were rescued on April 9. The survivors included three Rohingya refugees and six Bangladeshi nationals.
The individuals were reportedly found floating at sea and rescued by the Bangladesh-flagged vessel M.T. Meghna Pride, which was traveling from Chittagong to Indonesia. The rescue was not part of a coordinated search operation, as the incident occurred outside Bangladesh’s territorial waters.
Another coast guard official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the rescued group — eight men and one woman — were later handed over to authorities in Teknaf and were reported safe.
The exact timing of the capsize and the status of any ongoing search efforts remain unclear.
Ongoing Displacement Crisis
UNHCR and IOM described the incident as a reflection of the prolonged displacement facing the Rohingya population. Continued instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has made safe and voluntary returns uncertain.
More than 1 million Rohingya refugees remain in camps across Bangladesh. Limited humanitarian assistance, restricted access to education and employment, and deteriorating living conditions have pushed many to attempt dangerous sea journeys in search of work and security.
The U.N. agencies warned that vulnerable refugees are often lured by misleading promises of higher wages and better opportunities abroad. They called on the international community to increase funding and reinforce support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to prevent further life-threatening crossings.
