Bangladesh Closes Borders to Rohingya Refugees as Crisis Deepens

Bangladesh has declared it will no longer accept additional Rohingya refugees, citing a significant influx over the past two years. Meanwhile, Rohingya organizations have called for recognition of their human and basic rights.

In a recent statement, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that approximately 60,000 Rohingya have entered the country since 2022, Anadolu Agency reported. This clarification came after Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain mistakenly claimed the same number had arrived in just two months.

Chowdhury addressed reporters in Dhaka, correcting Hossain’s earlier statements made following his trip to Thailand for discussions with representatives from several countries, including Laos, India, and Myanmar. He highlighted the current situation along the Myanmar border, which is under the control of the Arakan Army, complicating any official negotiations regarding the Rohingya crisis.

Bangladesh currently hosts over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in its southeastern Cox’s Bazar district, with the majority fleeing from Myanmar during a military crackdown in August 2017. Approximately 500,000 Rohingya remain in areas controlled by the Arakan Army.

In a related development, 28 Rohingya organizations issued a joint statement calling for justice, equality, and peaceful coexistence in Rakhine state. They urged the Arakan Army to respect the rights of all ethnic and religious minorities amid escalating conflict in the region.

The organizations condemned the Myanmar military as a common enemy, accusing it of perpetuating poverty and division in Arakan state. They emphasized the need for cooperation among communities to address ongoing challenges, including an impending famine threatening the lives of two million people. The statement called for a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and prosperous future for all in the region.