Port Blair/Dhaka, Apr 15 (BNP): A major maritime tragedy has unfolded in the Andaman Sea after an overcrowded trawler carrying Rohingya refugees capsized, with around 250 people feared missing. The vessel, which departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was bound for Malaysia, is reported to have sunk due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Preliminary reports suggest the trawler was carrying nearly 280 passengers, most of them Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution and conflict in Myanmar. The passengers are believed to have come from the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, which host over a million displaced people from Rakhine state.
Rescue Operations Underway
The Bangladesh Coast Guard said one of its vessels rescued nine survivors, including a woman, on April 9. In a separate incident, the Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MT Meghna Pride spotted several individuals adrift on makeshift flotation devices and rescued them from deep waters near the Andaman Islands. Search and rescue operations are ongoing amid challenging sea conditions.
Survivor Accounts Reveal Ordeal
Survivors described harrowing conditions, alleging they were lured by traffickers with promises of employment in Malaysia. One survivor reported that several passengers died even before the capsizing due to inhumane conditions onboard. He also sustained burns from spilled fuel and drifted at sea for nearly 36 hours before being rescued.
Ongoing Rohingya Crisis
Thousands of Rohingya, a persecuted minority from Myanmar, undertake dangerous sea journeys each year to escape violence and dire living conditions. Many attempt to reach Malaysia, often relying on human trafficking networks. Meanwhile, Rakhine state continues to witness intense fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
UNHCR Raises Alarm
The UNHCR termed the incident a stark reminder of the “dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions” for the Rohingya community. It called for urgent global efforts to address the root causes of displacement and ensure safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of refugees.
Recurring Sea Tragedies
The Andaman Sea, bordering Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, has frequently witnessed such incidents. Last year, at least 427 Rohingya were feared dead in two separate shipwrecks off Myanmar’s coast, underscoring the persistent risks associated with such perilous journeys.
Further details on the missing persons and rescue efforts are awaited as authorities continue operations in the region.
