In recent months, young Rohingyas from refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have reportedly returned to Myanmar to fight in the ongoing civil conflict. These young men are said to leave their camps at night, entering Myanmar’s Rakhine State to join battles alongside various armed groups and the Myanmar military. They say they are fighting to protect their homeland.

According to local media and eyewitness accounts, other fighters from countries like Kashmir (India), Pakistan are also participating in this conflict. The Rohingya fighters say they are joining the war out of their own choice, without any formal support from the camps. When they return to Bangladesh, they speak of the horrors they witnessed in Rakhine, including attacks specifically targeting Rohingyas and widespread starvation. The fighting is reportedly so intense that loud explosions can be heard in Teknaf, cracking the walls of nearby houses and creating an atmosphere of fear along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

One young fighter, using the pseudonym Sabbir, described his experiences in Myanmar. Sabbir, aged 22, said that he and nearly 3,000 other Rohingya youths are involved in the conflict. He mentioned that the Myanmar military appears to be supporting some Rohingya fighters with weapons. Another young man, Refatullah recounted the hardships faced by Rohingyas in Myanmar. According to Refatullah, the Arakan Army, a group fighting for independence from Myanmar, has forcibly recruited people from Rohingya camps to fight against the Myanmar military.

Despite their hardships, many Rohingya youths remain committed to the fight, seeing it as a chance to gain recognition and rights in Myanmar. Abu shared that he was given the duty of guarding a village near Maungdaw in Rakhine. He dreams of seeing an independent Rakhine where he can finally live in peace.

Many Rohingyas have tried to escape the conflict by fleeing to Bangladesh. Mohammad Junayed, 24, shared that he lost a close relative in the clashes and witnessed many Rohingya casualties. Thousands of Rohingyas are still crossing into Bangladesh for safety. The Bangladeshi border guard, the BGB, has turned some back, but thousands continue to arrive.

Anwar Sadek, another resident of the camps, expressed a desire to return to Myanmar when peace is restored. He believes that if Bangladesh and the United Nations can create a sustainable repatriation plan, many Rohingyas would willingly return home. However, every time there is talk of repatriation, conflict seems to flare up again in Myanmar, making it difficult.

According to the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Dr. Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, over 30,000 new Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh in recent months. The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, is helping with their registration. Dr. Rahman, however, stated that they are not officially aware of Rohingya youths going back to Myanmar to fight.

Since 2017, Bangladesh has sheltered millions of Rohingyas fleeing violence in Myanmar, putting a strain on its resources. Now, with even more Rohingyas arriving, there is growing concern among the local population.

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