DHAKA, Apr 15: About 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are feared missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Tuesday.
The trawler, which left Teknaf in southern Bangladesh for Malaysia, reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, UNHCR said, highlighting the dangers faced by displaced Rohingya.
The agency said the tragedy underscores prolonged displacement and lack of durable solutions, as thousands of Rohingya flee persecution and conflict in Myanmar each year, often undertaking perilous sea journeys.
Most of those on board were believed to be from overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, housing over a million Rohingya who fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where ongoing violence has made safe return uncertain.
UNHCR noted that limited access to education, jobs and humanitarian aid in camps continues to push refugees towards risky migration, often driven by false promises of better opportunities abroad.
Preliminary reports suggest the vessel, carrying around 280 people, departed on April 4, though details of the incident remain unclear.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard said nine survivors, including a woman, were rescued on April 9 after being spotted floating at sea by a Bangladeshi vessel near the Andaman Islands.
One survivor, Rafiqul Islam, said traffickers lured him with promises of work in Malaysia, adding that several passengers died even before the boat capsized. He said survivors drifted for nearly 36 hours before rescue.
The UNHCR termed the incident a stark reminder of the urgent need to address root causes of displacement in Myanmar and ensure conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
The Andaman Sea borders Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula and is a common route for irregular migration. Last year, UNHCR reported 427 Rohingya feared dead in two shipwrecks off Myanmar’s coast. (Agencies)
