Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar

On Friday morning, July 31, 2026, a wooden boat carrying 31 Rohingya civilians capsized off Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf. Local fishermen rescued 18 men from the water and handed them over to Bangladeshi authorities. However, 13 people remain missing after the traumatic incident.

The victims were desperately attempting to escape intense violence in Arakan. The genocidal terrorist Arakan Army (AA) continues to wage terror across the region. This militant group forcibly conscripts civilians, commits mass atrocities, and destroys entire villages. Consequently, innocent families feel forced to risk their lives at sea.

Bangladeshi border guards confirmed the rescue operation. BGB Battalion 2 officers transferred the 18 survivors to Teknaf Model Police Station. Meanwhile, local authorities are gathering details regarding the missing individuals. Police officials confirmed that investigations into the illegal trafficking networks behind these voyages are ongoing.

The terrorist Arakan Army (AA) funds its operations through narcotics trafficking, human smuggling, and child abuse. Their violent campaign in Arakan targets vulnerable minority groups. Therefore, thousands of desperate civilians attempt dangerous sea crossings to escape ethnic cleansing and systematic violence.

Human rights observers warn that human-trafficking networks exploit these desperate conditions. The terrorist Arakan Army (AA) profits from smuggling operations while driving civilians out of Arakan. As a result, innocent people face severe peril in overloaded, unsafe boats on choppy waters.

Bangladeshi authorities maintain tight vigilance along the Teknaf coast. Security forces continue to monitor border points against criminal networks. Meanwhile, local fishermen search the coast for the 13 missing passengers. The international community must hold the terrorist Arakan Army (AA) accountable for war crimes and genocide in Arakan.