It is not known exactly when the vessel sank, nor what the status of any potential search might be on Wednesday.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated in a joint announcement on Tuesday that the boat had departed from Teknaf in the southern Bangladeshi district of Cox's Bazar, carrying a large number of passengers bound for Malaysia.
According to their reports, the overcrowding of the vessel, strong winds, and rough seas led to a loss of control over the boat and its sinking.
UNHCR and IOM emphasized that this disappearance reflects the prolonged displacement of the Rohingya people and the absence of durable solutions for them.
They noted that the ongoing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State makes the safe return of Rohingya uncertain, while limited humanitarian aid, restricted access to education, and employment opportunities in refugee camps continue to drive vulnerable Rohingya refugees to undertake risky sea journeys, often based on false promises of higher wages and better opportunities abroad.
UNHCR and IOM called on the international community to increase funding and solidarity to ensure life-saving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, which has provided shelter to over a million Rohingya from Myanmar.