Growing violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State have triggered a new wave of Rohingya displacement, with thousands reportedly waiting along the border to enter Bangladesh. Local officials and refugees warn that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly as the Arakan Army tightens its control over Rohingya-majority areas.
Karim Ullah, who fled Maungdaw and recently arrived at Balukhali camp, described the dire conditions.
“Since the Arakan Army took over, I’ve had no work, no medical care. They raid our homes and beat us without cause,” he said. “Many others are stranded at the border, hoping to escape.” Similar testimonies have emerged from other refugees. Rahim Ullah, now in Palong camp, said that food shortages and extortion were rampant in his home village of Prampro.
They demand payments for everything. No goods are coming in, and people are starving. The Army takes takes young men and kills them. People are hiding in the hills, desperate to cross.”
Since November 2023, around 118,000 new Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh, according to the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Mizanur Rahman. Most have settled in existing camps in Ukhia and Teknaf, but space and resources are severely limited.
“Our villages are under pressure. Some refugees are involved in theft and abduction,” said Mohammad Ali, acting chairman of Hnila Union. “People are scared.”
Palangkhali chairman Gafur Uddin Chowdhury warned that the camps are already full,
“We cannot take more. The hills are covered with shelters, and another wave will overwhelm us.”
Authorities are attempting to manage the situation. Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer Sheikh Ehesan Uddin confirmed that the Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard are on high alert to prevent unregulated crossings. Commander Md Siraj Amin of the 14 Armed Police Battalion noted that while camp security has improved, new arrivals are staying with relatives, and the Refugee Relief Office is tracking developments closely.
With more than 1.2 million Rohingyas already in Bangladesh, the country is at a tipping point. Without swift international intervention, a worsening conflict in Rakhine may spark one of the largest and most complex refugee crises in recent years.
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