Blog

by Ro Maung Shwe

The room filled slowly, with young participants taking their seats beside teachers, researchers, and community figures. Some had come to receive certificates. Others had come to witness something that had taken years to build. By the time the program began, the space carried a quiet sense of anticipation, shaped by two parallel efforts that would come together in a single moment.

On April 24, 2026, Rohingya Khobor organized a program in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar that brought these efforts into focus. The event combined a certificate awarding ceremony for young Rohingya journalists with the official launch of the Arakan Village Map, a long-term documentation project aimed at preserving the historical and geographical identity of Rohingya villages.

A Beginning Marked by Learning

Months before the event, in January 2026, a group of Rohingya youth had gathered for a three-day intensive training on digital journalism and storytelling. The course, conducted by Al Jazeera in collaboration with Rohingya Khobor, brought together 20 participants selected from more than 60 applicants.

The selection process reflected both demand and competition. For many of those chosen, the training was not simply an opportunity to learn technical skills. It was an entry point into a form of storytelling that could carry their community’s experiences beyond the camps.

Over the course of the training, participants engaged with the fundamentals of reporting, narrative construction, and digital media production. The focus remained practical, equipping them with tools that could be applied immediately in their own contexts.

The certificate ceremony, held months later, marked the completion of that process. But it also signaled something more. It suggested the emergence of a new group of Rohingya media practitioners, positioned to document their own realities.

A Map Built Against Erasure

Running alongside this recent initiative was a project of a very different scale and duration. The Arakan Village Map, officially launched during the event, represents seven years of sustained effort by Rohingya Khobor.

The purpose of the map is straightforward but significant. It seeks to document Rohingya villages, many of which have been destroyed, renamed, or erased over time. The effort responds to a longer history of disappearance, including the loss of villages dating back to events around 1942 and continuing through subsequent periods of violence and displacement.

For a community that has repeatedly faced the erasure of both place and identity, mapping becomes more than a technical exercise. It becomes a form of preservation. By recording names, locations, and histories, the project creates a reference that can be used for research, advocacy, and collective memory.

The official unveiling of the map during the program marked the transition from development to public use. It placed years of work into the hands of the community.

A Gathering of Voices

The event brought together nearly a hundred participants, representing a range of roles within the Rohingya community. Teachers, youth leaders, journalists, researchers, and students shared the same space, creating an environment where different perspectives could intersect.

The program began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Hamidur Rahman, Principal of Milestone High School in Camp 10. The opening set a tone of reflection, grounding the event before it moved into a series of speeches.

Each speaker approached the moment from a different angle, but a common thread ran through their remarks: the need for action rooted in responsibility.

Youth, Responsibility, and the Present Moment

Rashid, a senior English teacher from Myanmar, spoke directly about the urgency of youth engagement. His message centered on the idea that waiting for the right moment often leads to lost opportunities. Change, he argued, depends on decisions made in the present, not deferred to the future.

Rahim Ullah, a former president of ITM, extended this argument into the domain of education. Drawing from his experience supporting higher education initiatives, he emphasized that learning carries both personal and collective weight. For him, education is not only about individual advancement but about contributing to the progress of the wider community.

These perspectives positioned youth not as future actors, but as individuals already responsible for shaping outcomes.

Storytelling as Responsibility

The role of storytelling emerged as another central theme. Khin Maung Thein, a photographer and film producer, spoke about the power of visual narratives in shaping how communities are understood globally.

He framed documentation as a form of responsibility. Stories that are not recorded, he noted, risk disappearing. In contrast, documented experiences can contribute to recognition and, potentially, to justice.

This emphasis on storytelling was echoed by Ro Yassin Abdumonab, who reflected on his own experiences as a journalist and humanitarian worker. He described the challenges of reporting from marginalized contexts, where access, safety, and verification can all become obstacles.

His message focused on integrity. For emerging journalists, he argued, the ability to remain truthful and careful in reporting is essential. Without that discipline, storytelling risks becoming distorted.

Skills, Language, and Practical Futures

Other speakers shifted the focus toward practical development. Md Younus Arman highlighted the importance of skill-building as a foundation for both survival and leadership. In a context where formal opportunities remain limited, practical abilities can shape how individuals navigate their environment.

Abdur Rahman, an English teacher and founder of Easy English Center, emphasized the role of language and communication. He argued that the ability to express ideas clearly can open pathways beyond the immediate setting of the camps, connecting individuals to wider platforms.

Together, these contributions outlined a framework where education, skills, and communication intersect.

Presenting the Map

The Arakan Village Map itself was presented by RB Hafizu, a journalist and editor, who walked the audience through its features using a projector. The demonstration moved beyond description, showing how the platform could be used in practice.

He explained the development process and the intended applications of the map, from research to advocacy. The presentation positioned the project not as a static archive, but as a functional tool.

The response from participants reflected recognition of its significance. For many, the initiative represented something new. A structured attempt to document Rohingya history in a way that could be accessed and used.

Recognition and Continuity

Khin Maung, a Rohingya politician and member of the UCR President Panel and EBRR Management Team, closed the speakers’ session by reflecting on the broader implications of the map. He described it as a necessary effort to preserve identity and strengthen collective claims.

His remarks emphasized continuity. Documentation, in his view, is not only about recording the past. It is about creating a foundation for future generations.

Participants echoed this sentiment, noting that such an initiative had not previously existed within Rohingya history. The recognition was not limited to the outcome. It extended to the sustained effort behind it.

A Ceremony That Marks a Transition

The final part of the program returned to the young journalists. Certificates were distributed, marking the completion of their training. The moment carried a sense of transition, from learning to application.

For the trainees, the certificates represented both recognition and responsibility. They signaled that the skills acquired during the course now needed to be put into practice.

After the formal session, participants gathered for a communal meal, creating space for informal interaction. Conversations continued, connections formed, and reflections were shared.

The trainees recorded feedback messages, while the speeches and key moments of the program were documented. Rohingya Khobor later announced that these materials would be gradually shared through its digital platforms.

A Day That Connects Effort and Intention

The event brought together two distinct but connected efforts. One focused on the future, through the training of young journalists. The other anchored itself in the past, through the mapping of villages that risk being forgotten.

Both, however, address the same underlying concern. How a community documents itself, represents itself, and preserves its identity under conditions of displacement.

The certificates acknowledge a new generation of storytellers. The map provides them with a record to draw from.

In a context where both memory and voice are often at risk, the combination carries weight. It suggests that documentation and storytelling are not separate tasks, but part of a shared process of maintaining presence.

For those who attended, the significance of the day did not lie in a single moment. It emerged from the convergence of effort, intention, and recognition. A map that fixes memory. A certificate that marks readiness. And a community that continues to define itself, even in displacement.

by Hafizur Rahman

Cox’s Bazar, April 24, 2026 — Rohingya Khobor organized a certificate ceremony and officially launched the Arakan Village Map project, bringing together guests, speakers, trainees, and community members.

The event followed a three day Digital Storytelling Course held in January, organized by Al Jazeera in collaboration with Rohingya Khobor. Trainees received certificates in recognition of completing the course and their commitment to learning storytelling skills.

Speakers highlighted the importance of responsible and truthful journalism, encouraging participants to share authentic stories from their community and raise awareness of key issues.

A central part of the event was the launch of the Arakan Village Map project, developed through long term work to document and preserve the history and identity of Rohingya villages. Organizers said the project will help the community better understand their origins and connections to their places of origin.

Organizers thanked participants and attendees for their support and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Rohingya youth through media, creativity, and learning initiatives.

by Hafizur Rahman

Buthidaung, Rakhine State, April 23, 2026 — Two Rohingya families traveling from Buthidaung to Maungdaw were reportedly forced to pay large sums of money at a checkpoint controlled by the Arakan Army on April 19, according to local sources.

The incident occurred at the 3 Miles Gate area, where each person was reportedly required to pay 10 lakh kyats to continue their journey. The families were traveling from areas including Taung Bazar and Naran Chaung.

Sources said the payments were demanded during their movement, making travel extremely difficult for civilians. Many Rohingya families are already facing serious hardship, and such high costs are adding further pressure.

Residents said restrictions and financial demands of this kind are becoming more common, limiting freedom of movement and increasing fear within the community.

There has been no official statement from the Arakan Army regarding the incident.

by Hafizur Rahman

Dhaka, April 22, 2026 — The government of Bangladesh has established a new national committee to oversee and coordinate matters related to Rohingya refugees living in camps across the country.

An official notice from the Cabinet Division stated that the 16 member committee will be chaired by the Home Minister. The decision was announced through a gazette signed by Additional Secretary Md Humayun Kabir on Tuesday.

The committee brings together key officials, including the Foreign Minister, State Ministers for Women and Children Affairs and Disaster Management, the Cabinet Secretary, senior secretaries, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of intelligence and security agencies. Representatives from Chattogram Division and Cox’s Bazar are also included.

Its mandate is to improve coordination of all Rohingya related activities. This includes maintaining law and order in the camps, strengthening management systems, and supporting repatriation efforts.

The committee will also review and monitor the work of existing bodies, such as the National Taskforce on repatriation and the committee responsible for relocation to Bhasan Char, and provide recommendations to improve safety, security, and living conditions.

Officials said the formation of this body is intended to strengthen coordination among government agencies and ensure more effective management of Rohingya related issues in Bangladesh.

by Hafizur Rahman

Maungdaw, April 21, 2026 — A group of 168 Rohingya people remain in an uncertain situation after being moved repeatedly across border areas and between armed actors over the past several days.

According to local sources, the group consists of men, women, children, and elderly people from 19 families originally from Buthidaung in northern Rakhine State. They were first taken to Maungdaw on April 18.

Sources said some members of the group were forced to pay large amounts of money and faced pressure and restrictions during their movement.

On April 19, the families were reportedly pushed toward the Bangladesh border during the night. Bangladesh Border Guard detained all 168 people after they reached or crossed the border area. Some reports said they were later sent back to a coastal area near southern Maungdaw.

On April 20, the group was again found by Arakan Army members and later that night handed over to a local administrator in Maungdaw.

Local sources also reported that money was collected again from the group by a local network operating in the area.

On April 21, the group was taken to an intelligence office and later moved by vehicles to an unknown location.

Their current situation remains unclear. Residents said Rohingya families attempting to cross the border continue to face serious risks, uncertainty, and fear.

Camp Correspondent

The news did not arrive all at once. It moved through the camps in fragments, carried by phone calls, messages, and short video clips that left little room for doubt. Mohammed Ullah, a young Rohingya known among his peers for his education and quiet determination, had died in the Andaman Sea after attempting to leave the camps by boat.

By the time the details began to settle, grief had already turned into something sharper. Among Rohingya youth in the camps and across the diaspora, his death was no longer seen as an isolated loss. It became a moment that demanded explanation.

A Death That Sparked Questions

Mohammed Ullah’s journey, like many others from the camps, followed a path shaped by uncertainty and risk. But according to multiple community sources and circulating testimonies, his decision to leave was not simply a search for opportunity. It was, they claim, driven by fear.

Soon after news of his death spread, video clips and witness accounts began circulating widely on social media platforms, particularly Facebook. These accounts alleged that he had been subjected to sustained intimidation by individuals claiming affiliation with the Rohingya Committee for Peace and Repatriation, a camp-based body involved in mediating internal community matters.

The claims, still unverified, quickly gained traction. For many young Rohingya, they resonated with existing concerns about safety and power dynamics within the camps.

Allegations of Threats and Intimidation

A report published by the Dhaka Tribune added further detail to the unfolding narrative. According to the report, Mohammed Ullah approached the protection unit of UNHCR in Cox’s Bazar in November 2025. His request was not related to resettlement or material assistance. He was seeking protection.

The reported trigger for the threats appears to have been a social media post he described as humorous, referencing an individual named Dil Mohammed. Following this, he was allegedly contacted and summoned by individuals who identified themselves as linked not only to the Rohingya Committee for Peace and Repatriation but also to networks associated with armed Rohingya groups.

According to the account, his phone was taken, and the post was removed under pressure. Yet the intimidation, by these claims, did not end there.

These allegations remain subject to independent verification. However, the convergence of testimonies, media reporting, and digital circulation has intensified concern, particularly among younger members of the community.

A Wider Climate of Fear

For many Rohingya youth, the issue extends beyond a single case. Mohammed Ullah’s death is being interpreted within a broader context where fear, coercion, and limited protection shape everyday life in the camps.

Educated and outspoken individuals, in particular, are often seen as more exposed. Without robust protection mechanisms, they may find themselves navigating informal power structures that operate with limited oversight.

This perception has been reinforced by the speed at which the story spread and the consistency of the concerns being raised. Even without formal confirmation of every detail, the reaction reflects an underlying lack of trust in existing systems of protection.

A Digital Campaign Takes Shape

In response, Rohingya youth across the camps and in diaspora communities have mobilized a coordinated online campaign. Through hashtags, statements, and shared testimonies, they are calling for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mohammed Ullah’s death.

The demands are specific. They include identifying any individuals responsible for wrongdoing, ensuring accountability, and strengthening mechanisms that can prevent similar incidents in the future.

Social media has become the primary space for this mobilization. It allows voices from within the camps to connect with those outside, creating a network of attention that extends beyond local boundaries.

At the center of these efforts is a shared message that continues to circulate widely: that this is not only about one life, but about the conditions that made his death possible.

Grief Turning into Collective Concern

Among those participating in the campaign, a phrase has begun to appear repeatedly. “Today it is Mohammed Ullah; tomorrow it could be others.” The statement captures a fear that is both immediate and collective.

For many, his death represents a warning. It raises questions about how many others may be facing similar pressures, and how many might take the same path if conditions remain unchanged.

This sense of vulnerability is not abstract. It is grounded in daily realities where protection systems are perceived as limited, and where individuals may feel that seeking help does not always guarantee safety.

Calls for Protection and Accountability

Advocates and community members are now directing their attention toward those responsible for governance and support within the camps. They are urging humanitarian agencies, relevant authorities, and community leadership structures to take the issue of protection more seriously.

The emphasis is clear. No individual should feel compelled to undertake a life-threatening journey in order to escape threats or insecurity. Ensuring safety within the camps must be treated as a priority, not an afterthought.

This includes strengthening access to protection services, addressing internal dynamics that may expose individuals to harm, and ensuring that complaints and requests for assistance are handled with urgency and transparency.

At the same time, there is a growing recognition that accountability will be central to restoring trust. Without visible action, the concerns raised by Mohammed Ullah’s case are likely to persist.

A Moment That Will Shape Trust

The response to this case carries implications that extend beyond the immediate moment. For Rohingya youth, it is a test of whether their concerns will be acknowledged and addressed, or whether they will be left unresolved.

Trust, once weakened, is difficult to rebuild. If the circumstances surrounding Mohammed Ullah’s death are not examined openly and thoroughly, the perception that individuals are left unprotected may deepen.

Conversely, a transparent and credible response could signal that protection mechanisms can function effectively, even within the constraints of displacement.

A Voice That Continues After Death

Mohammed Ullah’s life ended at sea, far from the camps where his story began. Yet his name now circulates widely, carried by those who believe his death should not pass without consequence.

For the Rohingya youth raising their voices, the demand is direct. Justice for Mohammed Ullah is not only about understanding what happened to him. It is about ensuring that others do not face the same path.

In the camps and across the diaspora, that demand continues to grow. It reflects both grief and determination, shaped by the recognition that silence, in this moment, would allow the conditions behind his death to remain unchanged.

Nadeem Ahmed

In northern Rakhine, a Rohingya villager who steps outside after curfew risks arrest. A farmer who wishes to work his own land may need permission. A household that refuses to send a laborer can face detention, fines, or violence. These are no longer isolated incidents. They are recurring conditions of life in areas under the control of the Arakan Army.

The pattern suggests a shift that is both political and structural. What appears at first as a series of abuses now reflects something more systematic: the consolidation of a governing order built on restriction, extraction, and control over movement.

From Battlefield Actor to Territorial Authority

The Arakan Army’s expansion across Rakhine in 2025 altered not only the balance of military power but also the organization of civilian life. As the group assumed de facto control over large parts of the region, it gained the capacity to regulate movement, impose rules, and enforce compliance. Reports from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in February 2026 describe a pattern of arbitrary arrest, detention, enforced disappearances, forced labour, extortion, and restrictions on work and movement imposed on Rohingya populations under this control.

Human Rights Watch, drawing on interviews with Rohingya who fled Buthidaung between April and July 2025, documented the mechanics of this system. Travel permits cost money. Curfews are enforced. Being outside at the wrong time can lead to arrest. People reported that they could not farm, fish, or move freely without authorization. Some were compelled to work without pay after initially receiving reduced wages. These practices indicate a shift from episodic coercion to routinized regulation.

This transformation matters because it reframes the nature of authority in Rakhine. The Arakan Army is no longer operating solely as an insurgent force confronting the Myanmar military. It is exercising forms of territorial governance that shape the daily existence of civilians.

A System of Control, Not a Collection of Abuses

The evidence across multiple sources converges on a consistent pattern. Fortify Rights documented a compulsory labor system operating across villages under Arakan Army control between November 2024 and October 2025. At least one person from each household was often required to perform labor, ranging from a single day to several months. Refusal could lead to detention, beatings, or fines. In one documented case, a Rohingya man was arrested after refusing sentry duty and then forced to build a road for ten days while being beaten.

This is not incidental coercion. It is organized extraction. The requirement that each household provide labor establishes a predictable supply of workers. The use of detention and punishment ensures compliance. The involvement of village administrators, who were themselves pressured or beaten to meet quotas, shows that the system operates through both direct force and subordinated intermediaries.

The regulation of movement reinforces this structure. Reports indicate that checkpoints have been established at village entrances and exits, and that Rohingya must obtain paid letters of recommendation to travel. Curfews restrict time as well as space. These measures do more than limit mobility. They create a controlled population whose movement, labor, and economic activity can be monitored and directed.

Extortion and taxation extend the system further. The UK Home Office, drawing on evidence from Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, recorded that taxation applied to nearly every form of property owned by Rohingya, including homes, shops, boats, fishing nets, and livestock. This level of coverage suggests an attempt to systematize revenue extraction rather than isolated acts of extortion.

Taken together, these practices form a coherent governing apparatus. Arrest, labor, taxation, and mobility control are not separate phenomena. They are interlocking mechanisms that define how authority is exercised.

Rohingya as an Extractable Population

The structure that emerges from these practices is one in which Rohingya are governed less as rights-bearing residents and more as a population to be managed, disciplined, and utilized. The compulsory labor system documented by Fortify Rights illustrates how labor is extracted directly. The requirement to pay for movement permissions converts mobility into a source of revenue. The broad taxation of property extends extraction into everyday economic life.

This configuration is reinforced by the absence of meaningful legal protections. Rohingya remain stateless and lack enforceable property rights. In such a context, checkpoints, detention, and confiscation can be implemented with limited constraint. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has also noted that the Arakan Army continues to deny recognition of Rohingya identity and uses derogatory terminology, further weakening any claim to equal treatment under its authority.

Land confiscation adds a territorial dimension to this process. OHCHR reported in February 2026 that Rohingya land and property had been confiscated and that non-Rohingya villages were being rebuilt on that land. This is not only an issue of individual dispossession. It suggests a reordering of space that may alter the demographic and political landscape of Rakhine.

In this framework, Rohingya are incorporated into a system where their labor, movement, and property are subject to continuous regulation and extraction. The governing logic is not one of inclusion but of control.

War-Making and Governance Converge

The practices described above are closely tied to the Arakan Army’s military and political objectives. Fortify Rights found that forced labor was used for both military and reconstruction purposes, including building fortifications, digging trenches, transporting supplies, and constructing roads. This indicates that extraction is not a byproduct of conflict. It is functional to both war-making and governance.

The use of civilian labor for infrastructure projects also blurs the boundary between military and administrative activity. Roads, bridges, and drainage systems are not purely military assets. They are also elements of territorial administration. The same labor that supports military operations contributes to the consolidation of control over space.

Detention-based labor further illustrates this convergence. The New Humanitarian reported that dozens of Rohingya, including women and children, were detained and forced to work for nearly three months in a camp-like setting near Maungdaw. The work included construction and maintenance tasks. The use of detention as a mechanism to secure labor underscores the integration of coercion into governance.

This merging of war-making and governance is characteristic of actors that transition from insurgency to territorial authority. The capacity to extract resources, regulate populations, and control infrastructure becomes central to sustaining both military operations and political control.

Parallel Domination and the Limits of Simplified Narratives

The emergence of Arakan Army governance complicates prevailing narratives about the Rohingya crisis. For years, analysis has focused on persecution by the Myanmar military. That remains a central component of the crisis. However, the current evidence indicates that Rohingya are now subject to coercive authority from more than one actor.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has explicitly stated that both the military and the Arakan Army are responsible for systematic abuses against Rohingya. This creates a situation of parallel domination, where multiple authorities impose restrictions, extract resources, and exercise control without accountability.

This complexity matters for policy and analysis. A binary framework that positions the conflict as a struggle between the junta and a resistance movement is no longer sufficient to explain conditions on the ground. The presence of coercive governance by a non-state actor alters the dynamics of power and the prospects for civilian protection.

Crisis Group reporting, as reflected in the UK Home Office note, indicates that perceptions of the Arakan Army among Rohingya are not uniform across all areas. Some more stable regions have seen limited improvements, including the return of displaced people. However, these variations do not negate the broader pattern of coercion. They indicate that governance is uneven rather than absent.

Implications for Repatriation and Humanitarian Policy

The shift from insurgency to governance has direct implications for discussions about Rohingya return. Policy frameworks often assume that improvements in territorial control or a reduction in active conflict could create conditions for repatriation. However, the current evidence challenges this assumption.

If return were to occur under conditions where movement is restricted, labor is extracted, and detention is arbitrary, it would not constitute a rights-based solution. It would represent a return into a system of controlled subordination. The requirement to pay for travel permissions, the presence of checkpoints, and the risk of forced labor all suggest that basic freedoms would remain constrained.

Humanitarian conditions are also shaped by these governance practices. OHCHR has noted that both the military and the Arakan Army continue to block humanitarian aid, contributing to a severe crisis in northern and central Rakhine. Restrictions on movement further limit access to services and livelihoods. These factors combine to deepen vulnerability rather than alleviate it.

The difficulty of independent verification in parts of Rakhine adds another layer of complexity. The UK Home Office note acknowledges that some incidents remain hard to confirm due to conflict and communication restrictions. However, the convergence of findings across multiple organizations strengthens the overall assessment of systemic abuse.

A Consolidating System

Recent field reporting reinforces the trajectory identified by international organizations. A Rohingya Khobor report from April 2026 described a requirement that each village in northern Maungdaw provide 50 laborers for three days of unpaid work on road construction and military-related tasks. This aligns closely with earlier findings of household-based labor quotas and suggests that the system is continuing and potentially expanding.

Fortify Rights has already indicated that the labor system is becoming institutionalized. The use of quotas, the involvement of local administrators, and the reliance on detention and punishment all point toward consolidation rather than decline. The risk is that these practices will become normalized features of governance.

At the same time, land confiscation and reconstruction on Rohingya property raise the possibility of more permanent changes to the territorial landscape. If such processes continue, they may entrench patterns of exclusion that are difficult to reverse.

The combined effect of these trends is a narrowing of the space for civilian life. As multiple forms of control intensify, the capacity of Rohingya to sustain livelihoods, maintain property, and move freely is progressively reduced. This dynamic also contributes to continued displacement, as people seek to escape conditions of constrained and coercive existence.

Conclusion

The situation in Rakhine has entered a phase that is not adequately captured by the language of insurgency or isolated abuse. The available evidence points to the emergence of a governing system in which coercion is organized, routinized, and embedded in everyday life.

This system operates through the regulation of movement, the extraction of labor and resources, and the use of detention and punishment to enforce compliance. It is sustained by the structural vulnerability of a stateless population and the absence of accountability mechanisms.

Recognizing this shift is not a matter of rhetoric. It is necessary for accurate analysis and effective policy. Without acknowledging the consolidation of coercive governance, any assessment of the Rohingya crisis risks misrepresenting the conditions under which people are expected to live, return, or survive.

The question is no longer only who controls territory in Rakhine. It is how that control is exercised, and what kind of order it produces for those who live under it.

---

References

Human Rights Watch, Myanmar: Arakan Army Oppresses Rohingya Muslims, 28 July 2025.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Assistant Secretary-General Brands Kehris on Myanmar, 27 February 2026.
Fortify Rights, Myanmar: Arakan Army Subjecting Ethnic Minorities to Forced Labor, 22 October 2025.
UK Home Office, Myanmar: Rohingya (including Rohingya in Bangladesh), January 2026.
The New Humanitarian, “I lost all hope for my life”: Arakan Army accused of detaining Rohingya in forced labour camps, 27 August 2025.
Rohingya Khobor, Rohingya Villagers Forced into Unpaid Labor in Maungdaw, 18 April 2026.

by Hafizur Rahman

Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar | April 18, 2026

Rohingya villagers in northern Maungdaw are being compelled to perform unpaid labor for road construction, according to local sources, raising concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions.

Sources said each village has been ordered to send around 50 people to work for three consecutive days. Those assigned must cover their own food and other expenses while carrying out the work.

The labor reportedly includes breaking stones, loading materials onto trucks, and digging bunkers and trenches near military areas. Residents said the work is physically demanding and continues from early morning until evening.

One villager told Rohingya Khobor, “We work from morning to evening without food or rest. If we stop, they shout at us. We are treated like we are not human.”

Another resident said, “We have no money to buy food, but we are still forced to work. Many of us feel weak and hungry while doing heavy labor.”

Community members said the situation is placing additional strain on already vulnerable households, as those who typically earn income are taken away for unpaid work.

A resident said, “We are already struggling to eat two meals a day. This forced labor is making our lives even more difficult. Poor families are suffering the most.”

Sources said the practice is ongoing, with different villages being called in rotation. Residents expressed concern that the situation will further deepen poverty and hardship in the area.

by Hafizur Rahman

April 17, 2026

Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported dead or missing at sea in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record for Rohingya attempting maritime journeys, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

The agency said more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted sea crossings last year, with around one in seven reported dead or missing. This represents the highest fatality rate among major sea migration routes globally.

Most departures were from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where many Rohingya continue to face limited access to education, livelihoods, and essential services. The journeys are often organized by trafficking networks, with refugees traveling in overcrowded and unsafe boats.

A UN spokesperson said, “Last year was the deadliest on record for Rohingya at sea.”

Another official said ongoing conflict in Myanmar, combined with statelessness and lack of protection, continues to drive people to undertake such journeys. “Ongoing conflict, lack of safety, and no citizenship rights leave many Rohingya with little hope,” the official said.

Women and children accounted for more than half of those traveling by sea in recent years, according to the agency.

The trend has continued into 2026, with more than 2,800 Rohingya reported to have attempted sea crossings between January and mid-April.

Earlier in April, a boat carrying around 280 people sank in the Andaman Sea after departing from Teknaf and heading toward Malaysia. Only nine survivors were rescued, while around 250 people remain missing.

A UN official said survivors of such incidents are receiving medical and psychological support.

The United Nations has called on countries to strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking, expand safe migration pathways, and address the root causes of displacement to prevent further loss of life.

by Ro Maung Shwe

On the edge of the camps in Cox’s Bazar, departures rarely happen in daylight. Movement is quiet, often arranged through whispered conversations and fragile trust in promises that are never fully verified. For those who leave, the journey begins long before they reach the sea. It starts with a calculation shaped by fear, scarcity, and the sense that remaining where they are may offer no future at all.

Across Bangladesh, thousands of Rohingya refugees continue to attempt dangerous sea crossings toward Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia. Since 2017, more than 4,950 Rohingya have lost their lives at sea, according to consolidated estimates from international humanitarian and human rights organizations. These deaths are not isolated incidents. They form a pattern that reflects deeper structural conditions within the camps and the absence of durable solutions.

A Crisis Rooted in Structural Constraints

The camps in Cox’s Bazar now host nearly one million Rohingya refugees. Over time, the conditions within these settlements have become increasingly restrictive. Movement is tightly controlled, access to formal employment remains limited, and daily life is shaped by dependency on humanitarian assistance.

Within this environment, choices narrow. Refugees are unable to move freely or pursue stable livelihoods, and opportunities for long-term stability remain uncertain. As a result, irregular migration is not perceived as an extraordinary decision. It becomes, for many, the only available path toward survival and dignity.

The journeys toward Malaysia are therefore not spontaneous acts. They are the outcome of sustained pressure, where structural constraints leave little room for alternatives.

Why Refugees Continue to Leave

The reasons driving these journeys are interconnected, each reinforcing the other. For many refugees, concerns about safety within the camps have become increasingly prominent. Reports of violence, intimidation, and limited protection create a sense of insecurity that pushes some to consider leaving despite the risks.

Economic hardship is equally decisive. Without legal permission to work and with strict movement restrictions, refugees are unable to generate consistent income. Malaysia is often seen as a place where informal employment may be possible, offering a chance to support family members through remittances.

Family separation adds another layer of urgency. Many refugees attempt the journey in hopes of reuniting with relatives who have already migrated, particularly husbands or fathers who left earlier. The emotional and social weight of separation can become a powerful motivator, especially when communication remains limited and uncertain.

For some women and girls, migration is shaped by economic pressures surrounding marriage. Rising costs and limited opportunities within the camps create conditions where leaving becomes tied to the possibility of securing a future elsewhere.

Debt and exploitation further complicate these decisions. Financial distress, often linked to informal borrowing or other pressures, can push individuals toward traffickers who promise safe passage and employment. In reality, these networks operate through deception, placing refugees in situations of extreme vulnerability.

The broader humanitarian context also plays a critical role. Declining international funding has led to reductions in food rations, education services, and basic support systems. As assistance decreases, the pressure to seek alternatives intensifies.

Journeys That Often End in Uncertainty

For those who survive the sea crossing, arrival does not guarantee safety. Malaysia, the primary destination for many Rohingya refugees, offers limited formal protection. Since 2017, an estimated 35,000 Rohingya who arrived in the country have been arrested and detained.

Detention conditions are often harsh. Refugees are held without formal legal status, with limited access to communication and minimal contact with their families in Bangladesh. Prolonged confinement deepens trauma and uncertainty, leaving individuals in a state of legal and social limbo.

This reality underscores a central contradiction. The journey is undertaken in search of security and opportunity, yet the outcome frequently reproduces vulnerability in a different form.

A Regional Failure of Protection

The continued loss of life at sea reflects gaps that extend beyond any single location. Despite repeated documentation and warnings from international organizations, coordinated regional responses remain limited.

Safe migration pathways are largely absent. Mechanisms to prevent trafficking operate unevenly, and enforcement often fails to address the networks that facilitate these journeys. Within the camps, protection systems remain insufficient to counter the pressures that drive migration.

This combination of factors creates a cycle. As long as conditions remain unchanged, departures continue. As departures continue, deaths at sea remain a persistent risk.

Rethinking Responsibility and Response

Addressing this crisis requires more than reactive measures. It demands a shift toward addressing the underlying conditions that make such journeys appear necessary.

Ro Maung Shwe, a Rohingya youth advocate, writer, and political analyst, has argued that family separation is one of the most significant drivers behind these movements. He emphasizes that international agencies, particularly UNHCR, should take a more active role in facilitating formal family reunification processes.

Such efforts would involve reconnecting spouses separated between Bangladesh and countries like Malaysia or Thailand, as well as reuniting children with parents living abroad. The argument is direct. If safe and legal pathways for reunification existed, many refugees would not feel compelled to risk their lives at sea.

Beyond family reunification, the advocate points to the need for a stronger humanitarian response. Reduced funding has intensified hardship within the camps, making migration more likely. Increasing support for food, education, and basic services would address immediate vulnerabilities.

At the same time, policy adjustments by the Government of Bangladesh remain critical. Current movement restrictions prevent refugees from accessing lawful work, reinforcing economic dependency. Allowing regulated income-generating activities could reduce desperation and provide alternatives to migration.

He also proposes the development of small-scale industries within the camps, supported by UN agencies, authorities, and private sector partners. Initiatives such as garment production or agriculture-based projects could create employment, build skills, and circulate economic value within the refugee community itself.

This approach focuses on sustainability. By strengthening livelihoods within the camps, the incentive to pursue dangerous migration would be reduced.

An Ongoing Crisis with No Simple Exit

The maritime movement of Rohingya refugees is often described as a migration issue. In reality, it is the visible outcome of deeper structural failures. Statelessness, restricted rights, and prolonged displacement combine to create conditions where risk becomes normalized.

Each departure reflects a decision made within constraint. Each death at sea represents not only personal loss but a broader failure to provide viable alternatives.

For those who remain in the camps, the choice continues to take shape in quiet conversations and uncertain plans. To stay is to endure restriction and hardship. To leave is to face the possibility of death.

A Crisis That Demands Recognition

The scale and persistence of these journeys make one point clear. Without sustained intervention, the pattern will continue.

Addressing the crisis requires coordinated action across multiple levels. Protection within the camps must be strengthened. Livelihood opportunities must be expanded. Safe migration pathways must be established. Family reunification processes must be made accessible.

Above all, the situation demands recognition of the rights and dignity of the Rohingya people. Without this foundation, responses will remain partial and insufficient.

The sea routes from Cox’s Bazar are not simply lines on a map. They are pathways shaped by absence, by what has not been provided, by what remains unresolved. Until those absences are addressed, the journeys will continue, and the risks will remain.