Rohingya boat sinks, 250 feared missing

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A desperate bid for safety has ended in tragedy in the waters of the Andaman Sea. A fishing boat carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized after leaving Teknaf in southern Bangladesh, with the UN refugee agency reporting that around 250 people, including children, are now missing.

The vessel, bound for Malaysia, is believed to have gone down on 4 April after battling violent winds, rough seas and severe overcrowding. According to the UNHCR, the boat had been carrying some 280 people when it left the coast. Survivors are yet to be confirmed, and the scale of the disaster is still being assessed.

The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority persecuted in Myanmar, have long faced perilous journeys across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Many attempt to escape the sprawling, overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where more than a million refugees live in dire conditions. For those who embark on these voyages, the risks are immense: last year alone, over 650 Rohingya died at sea, according to UN figures.

“This tragic incident illustrates the consequences of prolonged displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya,” the UNHCR said, urging governments in the region to address the root causes of the crisis and to create conditions for safe, voluntary return.

The Andaman Sea, stretching between Myanmar, Thailand, India and Malaysia, has become a deadly corridor for those fleeing persecution. In 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown, and many remain trapped in limbo, with little prospect of resettlement or return.

This latest disaster underscores the urgency of international action. Without meaningful solutions, the Rohingya will continue to risk everything at sea, driven by despair and the hope of a life beyond the camps. For now, families wait in anguish, as the search for survivors continues.

-2026-04-15