detained by the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB). For instance, reports and our testimonies indicate that those attempting to flee Buthidaung and Maungdaw were often arrested by AA personnel and only permitted to continue after paying exorbitant ransoms. Several people from the community were encouraged and facilitated by the AA to leave their places for Bangladesh. According to reports, AA members usually demanded payments between 300,000 and 500,000 kyat (approximately $143 & 238) per person in exchange for safe passage across the border. Similarly, at the Bangladesh border, many faced the looming threat of arrest and deportation as the BGB has repeatedly pushed back such asylum seekers. Fortify Rights also revealed in their news release that the forces pushed back refugees many times at its border. For instance, between February and April 2024, Fortify Rights conducted interviews with nine Rohingya refugees from Maungdaw Township who had fled the ongoing conflict and genocide in Rakhine State, only to be forcibly returned by the Bangladeshi border force. The organization has also found that more than 300 Rohingya refugees were pushed back into Myanmar between February and April in six separate incidents. The overland movement of people fleeing violence and persecution is also tough. For instance, Anowar Sadek describes his own exile journey in the following manner. His journey from home was one of immense fear, exhaustion, and suffering. When it became evident that staying meant certain death, he made the difficult decision to flee. With nothing but the clothes on his back, he embarked on a journey filled with uncertainty. Traveling mostly on foot, he walked for miles, often navigating through dense jungles and abandoned villages to avoid detection. The roads were dangerous, as both the AA and the military had set up checkpoints, making direct routes nearly impossible. He relied on hidden jungle paths and less-traveled routes, often moving at night when visibility was low. During the day, he took shelter in abandoned homes, dense forests, or isolated and lonely places, hoping to remain unnoticed. Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of the journey was encountering others who were also fleeing; men, women, and children, all burdened by the same fear and despair. Some had been on the road for days or weeks, wandering with no clear destination but knowing that turning back was not an option. They moved together and shared the little information they had about safe routes and avoiding areas that had been recently attacked. Crossing into Bangladesh was another challenge in itself. The border was heavily patrolled, and they had to find a way through without being caught. Eventually, after days 53