Dhaka, April 14, 2026 — At least 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, have gone missing after a trawler capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to a joint statement by the UNHCR and the IOM.
The vessel reportedly departed from Teknaf in southeastern Bangladesh, heading toward Malaysia. Preliminary reports suggest that rough weather, strong winds, and overcrowding contributed to the sinking.
In their statement, the agencies expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as a grim consequence of prolonged displacement and the lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya refugees.
Ongoing violence in Rakhine State has dimmed hopes for safe and voluntary repatriation, while declining humanitarian assistance has worsened living conditions in refugee camps.
According to the statement, limited access to education and livelihoods in camps is pushing many refugees to undertake dangerous sea journeys, often lured by traffickers promising better opportunities abroad. These voyages frequently end in disaster.
The Andaman Sea has witnessed numerous such incidents in recent years, with hundreds of lives lost. The agencies warned that without urgent international intervention, similar tragedies are likely to continue.
The UNHCR and IOM called on the international community to scale up humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, while also ensuring assistance for vulnerable host communities.
They further stressed that unless the root causes of displacement in Myanmar are addressed, and conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified return are established, the crisis will persist.
Earlier, on April 4, nine survivors were rescued by the Bangladesh Coast Guard after another Malaysia-bound trawler sank near the Cox’s Bazar coast. Families of the missing have since been anxiously searching for their loved ones, with many still unaccounted for.
