The trafficking of Rohingya refugees from Cox’s Bazar camps to different countries, including Malaysia, through sea routes continues to go on despite the obvious dangers that often lead to disasters and loss of lives. Sources say a group of touts are active in smuggling Rohingya refugees from the crowded camps of Cox's Bazar to Malaysia through the Bay of Bengal. They promise the Rohingyas a better life in Malaysia in exchange of huge amounts of money. This prompts the Rohingyas, who have little to do in the refugee camps, to risk their lives in perilous sea journeys to Malaysia or other countries by fishing trawlers.

Citing lack of manpower and the prevalence of dense forests in and around the refugee camps, law enforcers say it is quite difficult for them to monitor the movement of the Rohingyas living inside the camps. They, however, mention that they are trying their best to check the movement of the Rohingyas.

In the last one month, law enforcers stopped some 200 Rohingyas who were trying to reach Malaysia through the sea route.

Cox's Bazar Community Police president Tofayel Ahmed told The Independent: “A group of touts are active in trafficking Rohingyas to foreign countries in exchange for hefty amounts. They lure the Rohingyas with the promise of a better life.”

“It's easy for these touts to tempt the Rohingyas who have been leading a vulnerable life in the camps. The Rohingyas have their relatives in different countries, including Malaysia, and the touts sometimes take money from those relatives,” he said.

“Rohinyas are risking their lives while embarking into these uncertain journeys

through the sea route on rickety trawlers,” he added.

Additional police super Iqbal Hossain said: “It’s not possible to keep an eye on all Rohingyas inside the camps. They often evade the eyes of law enforcers to leave the camps. However, the administration is doing its best to monitor their movement. Surveillance would be increased in the future to prevent them from leaving.”

Sources say the Rohingyas staying in crowded camps have several times tried to sneak off to move to Malaysia or other countries. As the forest around the camps is dense and inaccessible, it is almost impossible for law enforcers to prevent them from fleeing the camps. The touts involved in the trafficking process often elude law enforcement agencies through different means.

In April 2019, Bangladesh police prevented some 115 Rohingya people from being smuggled to Malaysia through fishing boats. However, no suspected traffickers were detained at the time. Media reports say the Rohingyas risk their lives to make a voyage to Malaysia or Thailand by boat or trawlers when the Bay of Bengal remains calm before the advent of monsoon at the end of March.

About 740,000 Rohingya minorities fled to Bangladesh in August 2017 after being persecuted by the Myanmar military in Rakhine state. They joined another 300,000 of their countrymen who have already been living in the overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar following violence in Myanmar on previous occasions.

Yesterday’s trawler capsize in the Bay of Bengal was another instance of the tragedy that often awaits those who try to move to Malaysia with the aid of touts. Bangladesh Coast Guard sources said the Rohingyas were going to Malaysia with the collaboration of two touts, who were arrested from the trawler.