Published: July 12, 2025, 01:09 AM
Bangladesh has witnessed the largest wave of Rohingya refugee arrivals in nearly a decade, with an estimated 150,000 people fleeing Myanmar’s Rakhine State over the past 18 months, according to the United Nations.
The UNHCR confirmed on July 11 that the continued violence and persecution in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine, have driven thousands of Rohingya to seek refuge in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camps since early 2024.
“This is the most significant movement of Rohingya into Bangladesh since 2017, when around 750,000 people escaped a brutal military crackdown,” said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch during a press briefing in Geneva.
He praised Bangladesh for its continued support and hospitality towards the Rohingya, noting that the country has hosted generations of refugees from Myanmar.
Even before the recent influx, Bangladesh was already sheltering nearly one million Rohingya in overcrowded camps spread over just 24 square kilometers, making them among the most densely populated refugee settlements globally.
The humanitarian situation in these camps remains dire, with limited resources, poor living conditions, and growing security concerns.
