Rohingya youth’s death at sea sparks calls for justice

Photo: Collected

Arakan Now, 20 April 2026

Rohingya youths on social media are calling for justice after the death of a young refugee, Mohammed Ullah, who went missing when a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea.

Posts shared widely online say Ullah left the refugee camp after receiving threats linked to his social media activity.

A WhatsApp audio call recording, circulated among Rohingya users, appears to show a man threatening Ullah.

In the recording, the caller says he was told by Dil Mamed, chairman of the Rohingya Committee for Peace and Repatriation, to contact Ullah and deliver the message.

The caller asked Ullah to come to a madrasa to “solve the issue.” When Ullah asked what would happen if he refused, the caller replied that he should already know the consequences.

Arakan Now could not independently verify the authenticity of the recording. The report is based on widely shared audio and video recordings in which the individuals identify themselves as Ullah and the caller, a man named Mv Edris.

Rohingya youths online say the alleged threats forced Ullah to leave the camp and take a dangerous journey by sea.

According to the UNHCR and IOM, around 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals were on board the vessel when it capsized.

In a joint statement, the agencies said the overcrowded boat sank due to strong winds and rough seas. The vessel had departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was heading towards Malaysia.

Many of those on board, including Ullah, remain missing.