At least ten Rohingya refugees missing after shipwreck in the Bay of Bengal

Published at: 15/04/2026 08:29 AM

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed the disappearance of at least ten people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi citizens, after the wreck of their boat in the southeastern Gulf of Bengal.

The accident, which occurred on one of the most dangerous migratory routes in the world, was caused by excess passengers, strong winds and poor sea conditions, conditions that capsized the precarious ship.

The group had sailed from the town of Teknaf, in southern Bangladesh, hoping to reach the shores of Malaysia. However, the journey was cut short in international waters near the Andaman Islands, where the ship Meghna Pride managed to rescue nine survivors on April 9. Despite initial efforts by the Coast Guard, the rest of the occupants have not been located, raising fears of a new humanitarian tragedy in the region.

This incident highlights the extreme dangerousness of this maritime route, which has been established as a death trap for those fleeing precariousness. According to updated data from the United Nations, the situation reached critical levels in 2025: it is estimated that one in five people who attempt this journey dies or disappears at sea, evidencing the lack of safe and legal routes for these displaced persons.

Faced with this scenario, international organizations urge regional governments to prioritize search and rescue efforts, as well as to cooperate in the fight against human trafficking networks. The Teknaf tragedy is an urgent reminder of the need for a coordinated response to prevent the Gulf of Bengal from accumulating victims in shipwrecks that, with appropriate political intervention, could be prevented.

Mazo News Team