118,000 more Rohingya entered Bangladesh in last 1 year

Over the past year, approximately 118,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State and taken refuge in Bangladesh, driven by intensifying armed clashes and a worsening humanitarian crisis, according to figures released by the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC).

Most of the recent arrivals cite ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) as the primary reason for their escape. Many also report acute shortages of food and medical supplies in the region.
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the RRRC, confirmed on Sunday that registration of the new arrivals has been completed as of May 1. The majority of these Rohingya refugees entered during June and July last year, and they are now housed in camps located in Ukhia and Teknaf.
While emergency food aid is being provided, Rahman noted that no formal decision has yet been made regarding long-term housing for the new refugees.
The surge in displacement is closely linked to recent flare-ups in Rakhine State. Media outlets in Myanmar report that violent confrontations between ARSA and the Arakan Army have escalated, particularly in Maungdaw Township. Although the Arakan Army reportedly seized full control of the township on December 8, 2024, ARSA continues to launch guerrilla-style attacks.
One such incident occurred on April 28 in Pathar village, Maungdaw, where ARSA forces allegedly targeted Arakan Army positions. In response, the Arakan Army conducted sweeping operations, closed down local shops, and restricted access to the area.
Refugees who have managed to cross into Bangladesh say they are caught in the middle of these violent confrontations, which have made life in Rakhine increasingly perilous.
Bangladesh now hosts over 1.3 million Rohingya in 33 camps across Ukhia and Teknaf, including the recent 118,000 newcomers. Of this total, roughly 800,000 fled during the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar. Despite repeated attempts at repatriation, not a single Rohingya refugee has returned home over the past eight years.
Currently, Rohingya are entering Bangladesh through 22 known border crossing points. These include four routes in Naikkhongchhari’s Ghumdhum Union, five in Ukhia’s Palangkhali Union, and 13 in various unions of Teknaf—namely Hoikyang, Hnila, and Sabrang.
While many of the refugees have joined established camps, a large number remain hidden in surrounding communities and villages. Others have risked dangerous sea journeys by trawler, seeking shelter in coastal and nearby regions such as Cox’s Bazar, Maheshkhali, Anwara, Banshkhali, and Patenga in Chattogram.