On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that India expelling Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh and Myanmar since May 2025, without ensuring rights protections, violating international law. The expulsions, primarily from BJP-ruled states, involve arbitrary detentions and alleged mistreatment.
Why It Matters for South Asia
India’s actions strain Bangladesh’s refugee infrastructure, already hosting nearly 1 million Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, and raise concerns about regional stability and human rights compliance. The expulsions could impact India-Bangladesh relations and exacerbate tensions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
HRW Findings on India Expelling Rohingya Refugees to Bangladesh
HRW documented that at least 192 UNHCR-registered Rohingya were expelled to Bangladesh, and 40 were forced to swim ashore near Myanmar’s coast after being placed on a naval vessel. The expulsions stem from a campaign launched in May 2025 by states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), targeting Rohingya and Bengali-speaking Muslims as “illegal immigrants.” HRW’s Asia Director Elaine Pearson stated: “The Indian government’s expulsion of Rohingya refugees shows an utter disregard for human life and international law.”
Interviews with nine Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar revealed accounts of abuse. Six expelled in May 2025 alleged that Indian authorities assaulted them and seized their money, phones, and UNHCR cards. A 37-year-old Rohingya woman from Assam’s Goalpara district said, “When my husband asked where we should go, they slapped him so hard he still cannot hear properly.” According to HRW, these actions violate the principle of nonrefoulement, prohibiting returns to places where lives or freedoms are threatened.
India’s Legal Stance and Violations
India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention but is bound by customary international law, including nonrefoulement. The UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called the forced swim incident “an affront to human decency.” UN stat “India’s actions demonstrate blatant disregard for those requiring international protection.” The campaign, intensified after a May 2025 Supreme Court dismissal of a Rohingya petition to halt deportations, has led to hundreds of arbitrary detentions, with some Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh to avoid arrests.
Impact on Bangladesh
Bangladesh, hosting over 900,000 Rohingya, faces increased pressure on its Cox’s Bazar camps, where new arrivals strain resources. Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on X: “These push-ins are unacceptable and must follow proper repatriation channels.” HRW noted concerns about Bangladesh’s capacity to absorb more refugees without repatriation conditions, with camps already overcrowded at 10.7 square meters per person against a 45-square-meter standard.
BJP’s Policy and Regional Reactions
The BJP’s campaign, labelling Rohingya as “illegal immigrants,” aligns with broader policies targeting Muslim minorities, per HRW. In Jammu, authorities vandalised Rohingya shelters, arresting 30 in May 2025. Bangladesh’s government has urged India to halt expulsions, while regional analysts warn of diplomatic fallout.
Background
The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have faced persecution for decades, with over 730,000 fleeing to Bangladesh after Myanmar’s 2017 ethnic cleansing campaign. An estimated 40,000 Rohingya live in India, half registered with UNHCR. India’s 2017 shift toward systematic deportations, coupled with the BJP’s Hindu nationalist agenda, has heightened fears among Rohingya communities.
What’s Next
India’s Supreme Court is set to rule on September 23, 2025, on whether the Rohingya are “refugees” or “illegal entrants.” The outcome could redefine India’s obligations to Rohingya rights protection. Meanwhile, India expelling Rohingya to Bangladesh remains a pressing humanitarian and diplomatic issue for South Asia.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 30th, 2025
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