Bangladesh Faces Surge in Rohingya Refugees Amid Escalating Myanmar Violence

Bangladesh is tightening its border controls as it faces an influx of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Already hosting over a million refugees in Cox's Bazar, the country struggles to handle additional arrivals. Calls for third-country resettlement continue with limited progress.

Bangladesh has intensified security at its border with Myanmar, as at least 18,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed over to escape escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, according to officials in Dhaka.

The refugee influx has surged as fighting between Myanmar's ruling junta and the Arakan Army escalates. Thousands more are waiting to cross, officials said, adding that the situation is dire. New arrivals join over one million Rohingya already in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, who fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017.

Despite increased border vigilance, Bangladesh struggles to manage the 271-km border with Myanmar effectively. The government is debating whether to register the new arrivals, as resettlement progress remains sluggish. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus advocates for a fast-tracked third-country resettlement, but fewer than 2,000 refugees have been resettled since 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)