Sitting in a cramped, plastic-tented shelter in a narrow alley of Rohingya Camp-2, youth leader Mujibur Rahman speaks of a future shrouded in uncertainty.
He reveals that as living standards within the camps continue to deteriorate, an average of 100 to 150 Rohingya refugees are deserting their shelters every day. Driven by the hope of a better life, many end up in the clutches of human trafficking syndicates.
According to Rahman, the monthly aid for refugees has plummeted from $12 to a mere $7 per person. “It is difficult to provide even a single day’s food with this small amount, let alone a month’s sustenance,” he said.
Consequently, despite the life-threatening risks, refugees are choosing to board overcrowded, small boats to cross the sea, primarily heading for Malaysia.
Weakened infrastructure and security
The security and infrastructure within the camps have reached a state of extreme fragility. Mujibur Rahman noted that the surrounding barbed-wire fences now exist only in name, while drainage systems have collapsed and small bridges used for movement have become unusable.
The severity of the trafficking crisis was recently highlighted by the disappearance of 250 Rohingya after a trawler sank near India’s Andaman Islands.
Local residents and NGO workers report that international humanitarian assistance has decreased significantly over the past year. As food rations shrink and NGO operations contract, refugees are being deprived of work and education.
Traffickers are exploiting this desperation, using mobile phones to lure them into traps with promises of lucrative jobs abroad.
Rising death toll at sea
Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) shows that nearly 6,500 Rohingya attempted illegal sea journeys from Bangladesh and Myanmar in 2025. At least 890 individuals lost their lives during these voyages.
The rate of deaths and disappearances in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea increased by over 40 percent in 2025 compared to 2024.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that another 2,800 Rohingya embarked on these dangerous routes between January and mid-April 2026.
Locals claim that trafficking syndicates have been active in Cox’s Bazar since 2011. Currently, routes from Sonaichhari to Reju Khal and from Monkhali via the Naf River to Teknaf are most frequently used.
Victims are often held in secret hideouts in the hills of Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf before being trafficked.
Transnational trafficking networks
Md Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station, stated that the weakened camp fences allow Rohingya to move in and out with ease. Police have already identified 10 local suspects and initiated an investigation.
Investigations reveal a large trafficking network operating in Shah Porir Dwip, Sabrang, and Baharchhara. Police say the syndicate is primarily controlled from Dubai and Malaysia. Three traffickers arrested last April reportedly used WhatsApp to recruit Rohingya from within the camps.
Abdul Mannan, a member of the Shah Porir Dwip Union Parishad, noted that while the maritime route is extremely dangerous, traffickers exploit segments of the Marine Drive road where surveillance is low.
The plight of women and youth
Robi Alam, a resident of Camp-14, explained that women often take these risks in hopes of finding a secure life and a permanent home through marriage.
Although many women who travelled to Malaysia in 2024 were victims of violence and sexual abuse en route, they often remain silent about their trauma when considering the future. Alam lamented that traffickers are also deceiving young people with fake promises of “UN cards.”
Another refugee, Ibrahim, highlighted that the reduction in foreign aid has created a severe crisis of livelihood and security. Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, has urged the international community to find a collective solution immediately to ensure that 2026 does not become another “deadly year.”
A deepening financial crunch
The Rohingya crisis is currently funded by the Government of Bangladesh alongside various international organisations and banks, yet the funding falls far short of what is required. While 64 percent of the required funding was received in 2024, this dropped to 46 percent in 2025.
Notably, the Trump administration has slashed aid for the Rohingya crisis from $300 million to just $12 million – a 96 percent reduction.
This financial shortfall is severely disrupting education and health services. Jishu Barua, a Project Manager at YPSA, stated that employment opportunities within NGOs have been halved, increasing unemployment and financial pressure.
Jahangir Alam, Assistant Director of the Coast Foundation, reported that thousands of learning centres were closed in June 2025 due to a lack of funds.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammed Mizanur Rahman believes that the maritime exodus is driven not only by the financial crisis but also by the refugees’ statelessness and long-standing despair.
According to the latest UNHCR data, the Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar reached 1,184,864 as of 28 February, 2026. With 30,000 to 35,000 children born in the camps every year, the disparity between a growing population and limited opportunities is making the overall situation increasingly complex.
