Rohingya Refugee News (RRN) Podcast

New Podcast Episode This episode looks at how Malaysian media reported the recent Langkawi boat tragedy. Many headlines emphasised transnational criminal syndicates, police investigations, and cooperation with Interpol. That framing is not wrong, but it is profoundly incomplete. The narrative shifts responsibility onto smugglers without asking how state policy contributed to the deaths. WHAT THIS...

This is the audio edition of my essay analysing General Twan Mrat Naing’s recent interview and the Arakan Army’s narrative strategy. The piece explores how the AA presents itself as a rational, statesmanlike force while managing scrutiny over its actions against Rohingya civilians. The narration was generated using AI voice synthesis to make the essay accessible to wider audiences. 🎧 Duration: 14...

What happens when a ‘humanitarian corridor’ becomes the hottest property on a regional chessboard? In this episode, journalist Shafiur Rahman dissects Bangladesh’s sudden offer to open a UN-run aid route into war‑torn Rakhine. From cyclone damage and junta blockades to cabinet flip‑flops and social‑media free‑for‑alls, he tracks how an emergency food lifeline morphed into a geopolitical tug‑of‑war...

In this episode, Shafiur Rahman speaks to Dr Ambia Parveen, Vice Chair of the European Rohingya Council, about the recent announcement by Bangladeshi and Myanmar authorities claiming that 180,000 Rohingya refugees have been cleared for return. Dr Parveen offers a sharply critical assessment of this move, calling it “political drama” rather than a serious step toward repatriation. She condemns the...

In this podcast, a newly arrived Rohinyga refugee shares her reasons for relocating to Bhasan Char and why she encouraged her family to join her. She describes the constant fear and violence that plagued her life in the refugee camps, a place where even daily activities were overshadowed by gunfire, forced night sentry duties, and the looming threat of harm. Her story sheds light on how such real...

In early 2023, Saiful Arakani and I co-authored an article for the Dhaka Tribune titled “ Inside story of death on the high seas, ” which detailed a catastrophic event resulting in the loss of 180 lives. This incident contributed to the disturbing statistic of nearly 400 Rohingya refugees perishing at sea in 2022, a figure that may well be an underestimate. Various boats embarked on perilous journ...

The podcast features an interview with Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, about the ongoing abuses committed by the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) against Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Meenakshi describes the widespread impunity that allows APBn members to engage in extortion, harassment, and physical abuse with impunity. She also highlights the broader context of hum...

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has recently released a statement that paints a grim picture of the current situation in Rakhine State. The report details the plight of over 26,000 displaced individuals, adding to 63,884 IDPs, along with approximately 150,000 predominantly Rohingya IDPs in Sittwe and Pauktaw from previous conflicts. A sweeping ban on...