On 9 October 2016, a Rohingya militant group attacked border police posts in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. The Myanmar security response that followed included serious abuses and drove thousands of Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh, setting the stage for a larger crisis the next year.
On 25 August 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked multiple security posts in Rakhine State. Myanmar’s ensuing “clearance operations” involved widespread violence and village destruction, pushing a huge new wave of Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh.
On 23 November 2017, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an “Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State.” It aimed to start repatriation soon, but it did not resolve core refugee concerns such as safety, rights, and long-term legal status in Myanmar.
On 16 January 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed on a two-year framework and operational details to return Rohingya from Bangladesh. Humanitarian and rights groups warned that returns could not be safe or voluntary without credible protections and meaningful changes in Rakhine State.
On 13 February 2018, the UN Security Council received a briefing emphasizing the scale of displacement into Bangladesh and the continuing risk to civilians. The briefing highlighted that the crisis was not only a humanitarian emergency but also a barrier to any safe, voluntary return.
On 6 June 2018, UNHCR and UNDP signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with Myanmar to support conditions for voluntary, safe, and dignified returns from Bangladesh. The agreement was presented as a framework step, but it did not by itself guarantee rights like freedom of movement or citizenship.
In 2018, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission reported that severe crimes were committed during the 2017 operations and said there was sufficient basis to investigate and prosecute senior Myanmar military leaders, including for genocide. This strengthened calls for international accountability and affected prospects for return.
On 15 November 2018, an organized repatriation attempt from Bangladesh to Myanmar failed when no refugees agreed to board buses for return. Many Rohingya said conditions in Myanmar were unsafe and that they lacked guarantees of rights and protection.
On 11 November 2019, The Gambia filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Myanmar of violating the Genocide Convention against the Rohingya. The case shifted part of the global response from humanitarian relief toward state responsibility under international law.
On 14 November 2019, the International Criminal Court authorized an investigation into alleged crimes against the Rohingya, including deportation and persecution, tied to events occurring at least in part on Bangladesh’s territory. This was a major legal step because Myanmar is not an ICC member, but Bangladesh is.
On 23 January 2020, the ICJ ordered Myanmar to take emergency (“provisional”) measures to prevent acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to preserve evidence. While not a final ruling on genocide, the order increased international scrutiny and reinforced demands for protection inside Myanmar.
In early December 2020, Bangladesh began moving groups of Rohingya refugees from crowded camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhasan Char, a remote island settlement. The government said the move would reduce overcrowding, while rights groups raised concerns about consent, access to services, and safety during extreme weather.
On 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup, detaining senior civilian leaders and declaring a state of emergency. The takeover deepened instability and made diplomatic progress on safe, voluntary repatriation even harder, leaving most Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in long-term displacement.
Rohingya exodus from Myanmar to Bangladesh (2016–2021)