Over 15,000 more Rohingyas enter Bangladesh amid attacks in Rakhine

• Ukhiya, Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, and Naikhongchhari in Bandarban are most vulnerable
• Local sources claim over 50,000 Rohingya are waiting to cross border
• BGB claims only a few isolated entries have occurred
• Authorities have been informed to increase monitoring
• Recent Rohingya migration follows intensified conflict in Myanmar
• Smugglers are facilitating border crossings

Over the past 8-10 days, over 15,000 more Rohingya have entered Bangladesh and sought refuge in various camps as conflict intensifies in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, according to multiple sources.

An additional 50,000 Rohingyas are reportedly waiting to cross the border.

The Rohingya are crossing through Ukhiya, Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, and Naikhongchhari in Bandarban, often facilitated by smuggling rings via the Naf River.

Two sources from the International Organization for Migration and the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the reports of the recent influx over the last few weeks.

Many of the new entrants include injured children and women who are receiving informal medical assistance, the sources said.

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which began in February between the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army insurgents, has intensified, causing thousands of Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh.

The conflict escalated in August, with reports of drone attacks and other assaults on the Rohingya community.

Local sources indicate that Rohingya are entering through 25-30 points along the Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban borders, including Teknaf’s Jadimora, Damdamia, Keruntali, and Ukhiya’s Balukhali, Anjumanpara.

On Sunday night, a group of 30 Rohingya, including 15 children and 9 women, crossed the Naf River and took shelter in a resident’s house in Keruntali. They came from Sudapara village near Maungdaw.

Zaheda Begum and Noor Jahan, two Rohingya women from the group described worsening conditions in Myanmar. 

“Both sides are using powerful grenades, mortar shells, and drone strikes. Bombs are also being dropped from warplanes. Many people are being killed and injured, and several Rohingya settlements have been burned down,” Zaheda told TBS.

Many Rohingya are facing challenges entering Bangladesh due to a lack of boats, they said.

Smuggling rings have reportedly been facilitating these crossings in exchange for money.

Teknaf-2 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahiuddin Ahmed, however, disputed the reported number of new arrivals.

“The number of Rohingya infiltrations being reported is not accurate. There are some isolated infiltrations. We are jointly repelling them. Nearly 4,500 Rohingya have been sent back in the last month. Patrols have been intensified in the Naf River,” he said.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman stressed the need to stop the influx of new refugees, citing decreasing foreign aid and growing population pressure in the camps.

“Those who are crossing the border are taking shelter with their relatives in various refugee camps. We do not have any record of how much infiltration has occurred,” he stated.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Adnan Chowdhury noted that most of the Rohingya infiltrations occur at night, making it challenging to monitor all points along the border. “Higher authorities have been informed to increase capacity,” he added.

Local sources confirm that smuggling rings are facilitating crossings through numerous border points.

Arafa Begum, a councillor of Teknaf Municipality, described the impact of the conflict across the border.

“The explosions are so loud it feels like the bombs are landing on nearby houses. The loud explosions cause children to wake up crying at night,” she said.

Aman Ullah, an author and expert on Rohingya issues, explained the complex situation the Rohingya face in Myanmar.

“Initially, the Rohingya were positioned against the Myanmar junta or Burma Army, but the Arakan Army started attacking them. Nearly 2,000 Rohingya have gone for training with the Burma Army. The Rohingya are victims of both airstrikes by the Burma Army and atrocities by the Arakan Army.

Of the nearly 5 lakh Rohingya in Myanmar, some are seeking refuge in Bangladesh, while others are looking for safe havens in cities like Maungdaw. Due to the ongoing attacks, most cannot stay in their homes, and there is a severe shortage of food and money,” he said.

The crisis continues to unfold as the border areas see increased activity and heightened tension, with both Bangladeshi authorities and international organisations monitoring the situation closely,