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Phase-5 Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char complete


Published : 04 Mar 2021 09:53 PM | Updated : 05 Mar 2021 01:16 AM

The second group of 1759 Rohingyas in the fifth phase, was relocated to Bhasan Char island of Noakhali district on Thursday. 

In two days of this phase, a total of 4,012 Rohingyas were shifted to Bhasan char from various camps at Ukhia-Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.  

The first team of Rohingyas in this phase reached the island settlement on Wednesday.  The Rohingyas  left Ukhia of Cox’s Bazar  for Chattogram on Tuesday and Wednesday.

All Rohingyas in the last two days arrived safely and all arrangements were done for the newly arrived Rohingyas, Commodore Rashed Sattar, Project Director of Bhasan Char shelter project said.

They are relocating from Chattogram to Bhasan Char in Noakhali under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy. Earlier, 10,020 Rohingyas were shifted to Bhasan Char from various refugee camps in Cox's Bazar in the fourth phase.

Samchu-Dauja Nayan, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner said the first batch Rohingyas left Ukhia Degree College campus for Chattogram   on Tuesday and the second batch, on Wednesday.

Samchu-Dauja also said the Rohingyas have voluntarily gone to Bhasan Char settlement in the fifth phase. The Bangladesh Navy and Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commission RRRC office has jointly made all arrangements to settle the Rohingyas in the Island.  

Bangladesh Navy made arrangements to take them to Bhasan Char by ships from Boat Club jetties of  Potenga area in Chattogram. On the Thursday, five ships took Rohingyas from Chattogram to Bhasan Char.

When boarding in the ship, Mohammad Muhammad Mostafa (65), a Rohingya said, “We  were not safe at Balukhali camp where many groups of miscreants control the order, so we left the camp for Bhasan Char for better living.”  

Kulsum Begum (21) said government officials assured them that they will allow them to  develop a livelihood. For this reason, we are shifting there.  

“We are going to Bhasan Char because our relatives who have already gone there are in good condition,” she added.

The government has built a shelter project for the Rohingyas at a cost of about TK 3,000 crore in Bhasan Char, where at least 1 lakh Rohingyas can be accommodated.

On Monday and Tuesday, Rohingyas from different camps, interested to go to Bhasan Char, were gathered at Ukhia Degree College ground.

"Law and order forces have taken extensive security measures in the area from Ghumdhum Transit Camp to Ukhia Degree College Campus."

Rohingyas in the world's largest refugee camp are living in a very inhumane environment, from there; the government has taken an initiative to relocate them to Bhasan Char to find an easy life.

 Although four rounds of Rohingya refugees have come to Bhasan Char, international organizations, including the United Nations, which are providing all the basic humanitarian facilities in Cox's Bazar camps, have not started working on Bhasan Char as yet.

 But a total of 45 local NGO are working to provide basics including education, school, and recreation.

Various programmes have been launched to improve the living standards and livelihood of the Rohingyas who have gone to Bhasan Char in the last three phases. Various government departments including the Rural Development Board, BRDB, are working for that.