Report on Rohingya Human Trafficking in Cox’s Bazar and Regional Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
- Rohingya Cultural Advocacy Centre
- Sep 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 13, 2025
By Rohingya Political Journalist Saiful Arakani.
Date :20 September-2025
Human trafficking remains one of the gravest threats to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Myanmar. In recent months, hundreds of vulnerable Rohingya men, women, and children have fallen victim to organized trafficking networks operating in Teknaf Marine drive hills Esat of the Bay of Bengal.
These traffickers exploit refugees’desperation, promising them safe passage to Malaysia or Indonesia but instead subjecting them to extortion, abuse, and life-threatening sea journeys.
Latest Incident in Cox’s Bazar
Victims: 300 Rohingya refugees reportedly fell victim to human traffickers in Cox’s Bazar over the past month.
Rescue: On September 19, 2025, a joint operation by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy rescued 66 refugees (including women and children) from captivity in the remote hilly areas of Baharchhara, Teknaf Upazila.Missing Persons: 234 refugees remain unaccounted for, raising fears that they were trafficked via Myanmar’s Tha Mee Hla (Rathidaung Township) towards Malaysia. Modus Operandi: Traffickers were using secret hideouts in the Teknaf hills to confine refugees before transporting them by sea, Victims were transferred from Teknaf’s Sha Porir Dip by dinghy boats to fishing trawlers hired by traffickers. The intended routes included Saint Martin’s Island → Tha Mee Hla (Myanmar) → Irrawaddy Delta → Thailand → Malaysia.
During this operation, traffickers abandoned their hideouts and fled. Authorities confirmed that the rescued refugees received immediate medical treatment, food, and assistance.
Background of Trafficking Routes.
Human traffickers frequently target Rohingya refugees from:
Teknaf and Kutupalong camps in Bangladesh, Tha Mee Hla in Rakhine State, Myanmar.The refugees are promised safe travel to Malaysia but are often:
Extorted for large sums of money from their families.Abused, starved, and confined under inhumane conditions.
Threatened with death if ransoms are not paid.
At risk of drowning during unsafe boat journeys and Many trafficking attempts end in maritime disasters, with boats capsizing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, causing mass deaths.
Human Trafficking Laws
International Law.
UN Palermo Protocol (2000): Defines human trafficking as recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons through force, coercion, or deception for exploitation.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Prohibits slavery and servitude in all forms.
Refugee Convention (1951): Protects refugees from forced return and exploitation.
Bangladesh National Laws
Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act (2012):
Provides severe penalties, including life imprisonment and fines, for traffickers.Recognizes all forms of trafficking (labor, sexual exploitation, organ trade, forced marriage).
Establishes special tribunals for speedy trials.
Grants protection and rehabilitation rights to victims.
Myanmar Laws
Myanmar is a signatory to the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol, but enforcement remains weak, especially in Rakhine State, where military forces themselves are accused of complicity in trafficking networks.
Government Responsibility
Bangladesh Government Duties
Protect refugees in Cox’s Bazar from exploitation by maintaining strict coastal and border security.
Crack down on trafficking networks through intelligence-led operations.
Ensure safe shelter, food, and legal aid for rescued victims.
Work with UNHCR, IOM, and NGOs to prevent trafficking at the camp level.
Myanmar Government Duties
Stop the forcible movement and extortion of Rohingyas in Rakhine State.
Cooperate in regional anti-trafficking operations.
On 20-Sep-2025 the APBN police Battalion 16 Ongoing Operation in Hilly Areas Against Human Traffickers and Criminals. Ongoing APBN Police Battalion16 Operation in Hilly Areas Against Human Traffickers and Criminals.
Security forces have launched an ongoing operation in the hilly areas to dismantle human trafficking networks and bring suspected terrorists to justice. The operation, led by law enforcement agencies, aims to restore safety and protect vulnerable communities from exploitation and violence. Authorities have pledged to continue the crackdown until those responsible are apprehended and legal action is taken.
Address root causes of displacement that push Rohingyas to risk their lives at sea.
Regional and International Responsibility.
ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) must strengthen maritime patrols and protect victims instead of criminalizing them.UNHCR & IOM must expand awareness campaigns, livelihood programs, and resettlement pathways to reduce trafficking vulnerability.
The September 2025 Cox’s Bazar incident highlights the alarming persistence of human trafficking targeting Rohingya refugees. While 66 lives were saved, the fate of 234 others remains uncertain. Governments of Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the wider region must uphold their responsibilities under both domestic and international law to combat trafficking networks, bring perpetrators to justice, and ensure the safety and dignity of Rohingya refugees.
We are investigating this matter and will get back with details.
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