The following is based on a communication sent from the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and other UN experts to the Government of Bangladesh on 20 April 2026. The communication remained confidential for 60 days before being made public, giving the Government time to reply. As of the time of writing, no response has been received from the Government. If a response is received, it will be posted on the Special Procedures communications database.
Since the communication was sent, the risks the two WHRDs face haven’t decreased, and they continue to feel unsafe. Since 16 May 2026, Ms. Rimas Khan has again been receiving death threats from an unknown number, including targeting her family members. It has also been reported that Ms. Khan and her family might be relocated from the transit centre in Cox’s Bazar to refugee camps where they would face serious safety and security concerns, as part of the transit centre’s closure.
This is a shorter version of the communication.
BACKGROUND
The communication was sent on 20 April 2026 by five UN mandates: the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.
It concerns two Rohingya women human rights defenders in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh:
- Rimas Khan: founder and Executive Director of Voice of Rohingya Women and Students (VRWS), established in 2022, working on domestic violence, trafficking, girls’ education, and peacebuilding.
- Sofia Khatun: works with the youth-led Rohingya Students Unity for Rights as Women, focused on women’s empowerment and community development.
The mandate holders had previously raised concerns about risks to Rohingya refugees in earlier communications (BGD 5/2023, BGD 2/2019, and BGD 5/2021), the latter concerning the killing of a defender in a camp.
ALLEGATIONS
Regarding Rimas Khan:
- Following the killing of a family member in 2019 by armed groups, she has repeatedly been targeted with threats.
- In 2022, she was reportedly asked by ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) to act as a spokesperson legitimizing their activities; after refusing, she was warned not to work at all.
- In December 2023 she was physically attacked at night by ARSA members; she was relocated for safety but continued facing harassment and restrictions on her movement.
- Starting 24 January 2026, she received renewed threats from unknown individuals.
- On 30 January 2026, her 10-year-old son disappeared after leaving for Friday prayers. He was returned on 2 February after a ransom of roughly BDT 300,000 was paid, allegedly to an armed group.
- Since March 2026, she and her family have reportedly continued receiving escalating threats.
Regarding Sofia Khatun:
- Since late 2025, she has faced multiple attacks and death threats.
- On 12 November 2025, she was physically attacked in public; the attacker also threatened and attempted to abduct her daughter.
- On 28 January 2026, someone attempted to forcibly drag her away in Dhaka; she managed to escape.
- On 3 February 2026, she received a threatening phone call followed by threatening messages on social media.
CONCERNS
- The mandate holders express concern over the repeated threats and attacks, linking them to the women’s advocacy work on women’s and girls’ rights.
- They see this as part of a continuing pattern of attacks against Rohingya defenders in the camps, with heightened, gender-specific risks.
- They note these attacks have largely gone unpunished.
- They call on the Bangladeshi government to ensure accountability, adopt effective protection measures, and investigate both the threats and the child’s disappearance.
- They warn they may issue a public statement if the matter isn’t adequately addressed.
