A large-scale rescue effort is underway in the Andaman Sea after a crowded fishing trawler carrying around 250 people overturned in rough waters on Tuesday. The passengers are believed to include Rohingya refugees along with Bangladeshi nationals attempting a risky sea journey.
The incident comes at a time when Bangladesh is marking the Bengali New Year, with global agencies warning that such tragedies underline a worsening humanitarian situation for displaced communities. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration expressed “deep sorrow” over the accident in a joint statement.
Overcrowded vessel headed to Malaysia capsizes
According to initial details, the trawler had set off from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was reportedly headed towards Malaysia. It capsized amid strong winds, with overcrowding said to have worsened the situation at sea.
Search and rescue teams have been deployed, but authorities fear that many of those on board may still be missing. The passengers are believed to include women, children and entire families, raising concerns about the scale of the disaster.
UN links tragedy to Rohingya displacement crisis
“This tragic incident reflects the dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya. Ongoing violence in Rakhine State has faded hopes of safe return in the near future, while shrinking humanitarian assistance, challenging living conditions in refugee camps, and limited access to education and livelihoods are pushing refugees to take such dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and opportunity. The promise of better wages abroad, often coupled with misinformation spread by smuggling networks, drives individuals, Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals, to take significant risks. These factors create conditions in which smugglers and traffickers can exploit vulnerabilities, placing lives at grave risk. The Andaman Sea continues to claim the lives of people undertaking these perilous journeys,” the statement said.
The agencies noted that such journeys have become more frequent despite repeated warnings about the dangers involved, pointing to the desperation among those living in camps.
Call for global support and long-term solutions
“We urgently call on the international community to step up solidarity and sustain funding to support lifesaving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as well as support for the Bangladeshi host communities. As Bangladesh marks its new year, this tragedy is a reminder of the efforts urgently needed to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar and create conditions that would allow Rohingya refugees to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity,” the statement added.
“Without collective action, more lives will be lost at sea and on desperate journeys through deadly routes,” it further warned.
Repeated warnings over dangerous sea routes
The Rohingya crisis, which intensified after violence in Myanmar in 2017, has forced hundreds of thousands to flee to Bangladesh. Many continue to live in congested camps with limited opportunities, making them vulnerable to trafficking networks.
Officials and humanitarian organisations have repeatedly flagged the continued use of unsafe maritime routes across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea by migrants, despite the high risk of accidents, stressing the urgent need for coordinated international intervention.