A Rohingya survivor has described a deadly sea journey after an overcrowded boat carrying refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, leaving around 250 people missing.
The boat departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was bound for Malaysia. It sank during the second week of April amid rough seas, strong winds, and overcrowded conditions, according to the United Nations refugee and migration agencies.
Bangladesh hosts around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in camps in Cox’s Bazar, most of whom fled violence in Myanmar in 2017. Many continue to undertake dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and livelihood opportunities.
Survivors said nearly 300 people were on board, including women, children, crew members, and suspected traffickers.
Rafiqul Islam, one of the survivors, said passengers spent four days and nights at sea as conditions worsened. He stated that traffickers forced passengers into cramped storage spaces meant for fish and nets in an attempt to avoid patrols.
“There was hardly any oxygen,” he said, adding that at least 30 people died from suffocation before the boat capsized.
When the vessel overturned, many passengers were thrown into the sea. Islam estimated that around 240 people were still on board at the time, including about 20 women and several children. Only a small number survived.
He said he was among a few who initially survived. A passing Bangladeshi oil vessel rescued four people, who then informed the crew that others were still in the water. Later, five more survivors were found.
Islam described the journey as involving multiple stages. On April 4, passengers first left on a small fishing boat before being transferred to a larger trawler near Myanmar waters. At one point, they were made to hide to avoid detection.
The incident highlights the risks faced by Rohingya refugees attempting sea journeys to countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Aid agencies say conditions in the camps are becoming more difficult. A survey by the International Rescue Committee, based on 500 households in Cox’s Bazar, found that only 2 percent of Rohingya parents feel hopeful about their children’s future, compared to 84 percent among host communities.
With food rations reduced to about seven dollars per person per month, many families are facing increasing hardship. Nearly 69 percent of households reported children dropping out of school, while about half said children had entered labor.
The International Rescue Committee has called for longer-term support, warning that without sustained assistance, both refugees and host communities may face worsening conditions.
The fate of those still missing remains unknown.
