At least 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are feared missing after an overcrowded trawler capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The vessel, which reportedly departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh on April 4, was heading toward Malaysia when it sank amid heavy winds and rough seas. Initial reports suggest around 280 people were on board, many of them fleeing dire conditions in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar or seeking work opportunities abroad.

According to AFP, the journey was organized by human trafficking networks that continue to exploit vulnerable Rohingya and Bangladeshis, luring them with false promises of jobs and safer lives in Southeast Asia. The dangerous sea route has long been associated with overcrowded boats and frequent maritime disasters.

Survivor Rafiqul Islam, 40, described harrowing conditions aboard the trawler, saying many passengers were confined in a holding area where some died before the vessel capsized. He also reported suffering burns from spilled engine oil during the voyage. “We floated for nearly 36 hours before being rescued,” he said.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard confirmed that nine survivors, including a woman, were rescued on April 9 after being spotted adrift in deep waters near the Andaman Islands. They were reportedly clinging to makeshift flotation devices such as drums and logs when a passing vessel intervened.

The tragedy highlights the ongoing risks faced by Rohingya refugees, who continue to flee violence and instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where clashes between the military and the Arakan Army persist. Many remain trapped in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh with limited access to livelihoods, pushing them toward perilous migration routes.

UNHCR warned that the incident underscores the “dire consequences” of prolonged displacement and the lack of sustainable solutions for the Rohingya crisis. It called for urgent international efforts to address root causes in Myanmar and create conditions for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees.

The Andaman Sea, bordering Myanmar, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula, remains a major corridor for irregular migration, where hundreds have lost their lives recently attempting the journey.

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