Rohingyas are entering Bangladesh through various points along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border from Naikhongchhari in Bandarban to Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.

Border Guard Bangladesh has increased surveillance to prevent infiltration but has failed to stop their arrivals as the Rohingyas are using remote and hard-to-monitor routes. Brokers from Rohingya and Bangladeshi communities are helping them reach refugee camps in Teknaf and Ukhiya, said officials.

Rohingya camp leaders expressed concern over a possible fresh inflow in the coming days due to increasing oppression by the Arakan Army, which now controls over 80 percent of Rakhine state.

A Rohingya youth from Maungdaw, requesting anonymity, told this correspondent over the phone that many are fleeing from Rakhine to avoid being recruited in the Arakan Army to fight against the Junta military.

"We also want to fight for our country alongside the Arakan Army, but they must first ensure our citizenship rights in Myanmar," he said.

"Moreover, members of the Arakan Army frequently raid our homes and detain people on suspicion of their links with Arsa. They also loot valuables."

On Sunday, members of the Arakan Army, an armed group, carried out a raid in Sikdarpara village of northern Maungdaw. They forced villagers into an open field from 8:00am to 2:00pm, searched homes for links with Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, another armed group, detained 10 people, and burnt five Rohingya houses.

"They are not directly telling us to leave, but their continuous repression is forcing us out of the area," the youth said.

Locals at Shahporir Dwip jetty in Teknaf said smoke from the burning houses was visible from Bangladesh.

Md Mizanur Rahman, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, said 30 to 40 Rohingyas are entering the camps daily from Myanmar.

"We have already completed biometric registration of 1.18 lakh new arrivals since November 2023. Many are waiting for registration and have been given tokens for food assistance," he said, but declined to share the number of tokens issued, citing concerns over duplication and the inclusion of Bangladeshis.

These new arrivals have joined the nearly 12 lakh Rohingyas already residing in Bangladesh, majority of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017.

Md Zubair, chairman of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, alleged that the Arakan Army is carrying out systemic ethnic cleansing.

"About 3.5 lakh Rohingyas still live in Rakhine and many want to flee. The Arakan Army also extorts money from those trying to escape, for going to fields and doing business."

He warned that another major influx into Bangladesh is likely if the oppression continues.

Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of BGB Battalion-2 in Teknaf, said that as strict surveillance along the Naf river and Bay of Bengal continues, the Rohingyas are crossing the border through remote hilly areas with the help of traffickers.

The traffickers are changing their strategies to bring Rohingyas into Bangladesh, so BGB is revising its prevention plan frequently, he said.

He added that many Rohingyas have been pushed back recently when they tried to enter Bangladesh illegally.