A humanitarian catastrophe is feared after a Malaysia-bound trawler, allegedly carrying more than 250 trafficked Bangladeshis and Rohingya, capsized near the Andaman Islands recently.
The incident came to light after nine survivors were rescued from the sea.
In a press release, Bangladesh Coast Guard media officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan said the Bangladesh-flagged vessel MT Meghna Pride, en route from Chattogram to Indonesia, rescued nine individuals -- eight men and one woman -- from international waters near the Andaman Islands on the afternoon of April 9.
They were later handed over to Bangladesh Coast Guard’s patrol ship Mansur Ali around midnight.
After being rescued, the survivors described harrowing accounts of human trafficking and the deadly voyage.
Rafiqul Islam, a Rohingya survivor, claimed he had been lured with a job offer from Kutupalong Bazar on April 2. He was taken to a house in the Rajarchhara area of Teknaf’s Kachhopia union, where he was confined with 20 to 25 others in inhumane conditions.
He alleged that victims were subjected to abuse whenever they attempted to escape, adding that multiple houses in the area were used to confine trafficked individuals.
On the night of April 4, they were taken to the Marine Drive adjacent coast near Rajarchhara and boarded onto small fishing boats. At one stage, they were forced to hide in nearby bushes as a Border Guard Bangladesh patrol passed.
“We were later transferred in stages to a larger fishing trawler near Myanmar waters, close to Saint Martin’s Island,” he said.
According to Rafiqul, more passengers were loaded onto the vessel, bringing the total to around 280, including 13 crew members and traffickers, 21 Rohingya women, and four children. Around 150 of the passengers were Rohingya, while the rest were Bangladeshis.
After leaving waters near Shamila in Myanmar (near St Martin’s Island) on April 4, the trawler reached near the Andaman Islands on April 8.
Due to rough seas, traffickers allegedly forced passengers into four cramped storage compartments meant for fish and nets.
Rafiqul claimed that 25 to 30 people died from suffocation and overcrowding.
He further alleged that traffickers threatened to sink the vessel if those on deck refused to move into the compartments.
The trawler eventually capsized after being hit by large waves, Rafiqul said.
He survived by clinging to a two-litre water bottle but could not say what happened to the others. He was rescued along with eight others on April 9.
Another survivor, Md Imran from a Rohingya camp in Kutupalong, said he had joined the journey hoping to escape camp life.
“When we reached near the Andaman Sea, the trawler sank. I held onto a water tank and fought for my life for two days before being rescued by a Bangladeshi ship,” he said.
“I still cannot process how many people died. Living with this memory is extremely painful.”
The coast guard members filed a case under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 with Teknaf Model Police Station on Sunday in connection with the incident.
According to the case statement, the victims were being transported illegally to Malaysia on a boat named “Tanjina Sultana” when it sank due to adverse weather.
Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said the nine rescued individuals were brought to the police station. Legal action has been taken against six alleged traffickers among them.
Among the rescued, six are Bangladeshi nationals and three are Rohingya, the OC said, adding that three victims have been sent home following court orders after initial questioning, while the suspected traffickers were sent to jail on Sunday.
The officer said investigators have yet to determine the exact number of passengers on board or the fate of the missing.
“The rescued persons are not clearly describing what happened to the trawler or how they survived at sea,” he said, adding that the total number of victims remains uncertain.
At one stage, he declined to comment further.
The rescued individuals were identified as Md Imran, Rahela Begum, Hridoy, Sohan Uddin, Md Akbar, Rafiqul Islam, Tofayel, Sayad Alam, and Md Hamid.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said the trawler, which departed from southern Bangladesh, sank due to heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding.
UNHCR and IOM said they were deeply saddened by the incident, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Rohingya refugees and other vulnerable groups who undertake perilous sea voyages in search of safety and opportunity.
They noted that ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has dimmed hopes of safe return, while shrinking humanitarian assistance, harsh camp conditions, and limited access to education and livelihoods are pushing refugees to risk their lives along these dangerous routes. They also warned that false promises of better wages abroad and misinformation spread by smuggling networks are luring both Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into grave danger.
The agencies called for urgent international support, urging the global community to strengthen solidarity and continue funding lifesaving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, alongside support for host communities. They stressed that the tragedy highlights the need to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar and create conditions for voluntary, safe, and dignified return.
Without collective action, more lives will be lost at sea and along other deadly migration routes, the statement said.
