UNHCR reports voluntary return of Rohingyas

Around 82 Rohingyas spontaneously returned to Maungdaw, Myanmar from 12 to 18 May, motivated by intentions to restart their businesses and resume farming their land, according to a document published by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

This is the first case of voluntary return of Rohingyas to Myanmar since 2017, a senior official told UNB referring to the UNHCR document published on 22 May.

An additional 30-40 Rohingyas are expected to return, expressing hope that the Arakan Army (AA) would provide them with some form of documentation, according to the UNHCR updates on the humanitarian cross-border situation in Rakhine and Cox's Bazar.

In 2017, an influx of approximately 7,50,000 Rohingyas from Myanmar, triggered by a military crackdown in Rakhine State, crossed the border into Bangladesh.

This large-scale displacement added to the already existing Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh, bringing the total number to over a million.

Some are reportedly youth who fled forced recruitment in 2024, and now believe the situation in Maungdaw has since improved.

The AA is reportedly accepting bribes to allow returns and questioning returnees about conditions in Cox's Bazar camps and activities of organised groups.

"While no coercion has been reported, it remains unclear what assurances, if any, AA has provided to the returnees," the official said quoting the UNHCR document.

The AA reportedly detained five individuals (four Bangladeshis and one registered refugee) who entered Myanmar in the reporting week.

While the four Bangladeshis were released, the AA is detaining the refugee in custody for suspected links with Rohingya organised groups RSO and ARSA, demonstrating the AA's heightened suspicion toward cross-border movement from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

Since January 2024, some 10,291 Myanmar individuals are reported to have faced refoulement-related incidents as they fled Rakhine State to seek safety in Bangladesh, UNHCR said.

Some 2,613 of these refoulement-related incidents occurred in 2025, making up almost a quarter of all such incidents.

During the reporting period, 10 individuals (all Rohingyas) were reportedly denied access to Bangladesh, 88% less than the previous week (87), including one registered refugee who moved back to Myanmar several years ago but was forced to flee again due to the conflict.

UNHCR, together with IOM, DRC and IRC, continues to triangulate information received through border monitoring and community sources to provide an estimate of new arrivals in the camps and host community areas.

The reduction may be due to increased restrictions imposed by the Arakan Army on movement to Bangladesh, according to UNHCR.

AA members are reportedly detaining Rohingyas attempting to seek safety in Bangladesh, imposing strict restrictions on movement for Rohingyas living in Buthidaung.

One registered refugee removed from India was released by the District Police in Kurigram and brought to the camps following advocacy by UNHCR and its legal partners.

Meanwhile, UNHCR called on the international community to stand in solidarity with the countries in the region that have been hosting Rohingya refugees.

Until the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is peaceful and conducive to safe and voluntary return, the international community must continue to support efforts to provide life-saving assistance to Rohingya refugees, said the UN agency.

UNHCR requires $383.1 million in 2025 to stabilise the lives of refugees and their host communities across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and those displaced inside Myanmar.

So far, UNHCR said, only 30% of this amount has been received.