The much-awaited Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char Island in Noakhali district from Cox's Bazar camps finally begins today amid opposition of NGOs.
A group of 1,000 Rohingyas is set to reach the destination today (Friday).
NGOs working in Rohingya camps have allegedly been opposing the relocation since Bangladesh's initiation of efforts to shift the refugees to the island.
Political leaders on several occasions alleged that NGO officials are creating roadblocks as there are no suitable accommodations for them on the island.
Administrative sources said comprehensive steps have been taken for the voluntary relocation of the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char.
A 20-bed hospital has been set up and other essential arrangements have already been made there for the number ofRohingyas. A number of local voluntary organisations have made all preparations to provide various services to the Rohingyas.
Several Rohingya convoys under foolproof security on Tuesday reached Chattogram by road from Cox’s Bazar where the Rohingyas, the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, have been staying.
According to multiple sources close to the administration, a total group of 2000-3000 Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar willing of their own accord to shift to Bhasan Char began moving on Thursday. These Rohingyas are being sent there with food and other basic humanitarian needs.
Bhasan Char is an island that emerged around 20 years ago. A shelter project has been set up there at a cost of around Tk 3,000 crore for housing for one lakh Rohingyas. Some 120 cyclone shelters were constructed under this shelter project. There is enough land for grazing thousands of cattlehead as the place is considered to be one of the largest cattle shelters and large farm haven in the country.
For the housing shelter project, 1,702 acres of land has been made secure with high embankments, out of which 120 cluster houses suitable for one lakh people have been constructed on 432 acres of land. At least two lakh more people can be accommodated inside the embankments, the same way, sources said.
Khorshed Alam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Noakhali said all arrangements have been made for the accommodation of Rohingyas in Bhasan Char. Various government and non-government agencies are working to relocate them.
The char is currently under the control of the Bangladesh Navy, whose administrative authority is the Prime Minister's Office. It is being included as a ward of Char Ishwar union in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district. However, this island is located five kilometers west of Sandwip island in Chattogram and 20 kilometers east of Hatiya island.
Lieutenant Colonel Ashiq Billah, director of the media wing of the RAB, said, “We are providing security for the transfer of Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar to Bhasanchar. On the first day, we are prepared to bring 2,000 to 3,000 Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar to Chattogram."
There are already 303 Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, who were rescued from the deep sea while they were being trafficked to Malaysia. These Rohingyas had a risky journey to Malaysia by boat, but that country did not allow their boats to dock.
The United Nations called on the countries littoral to the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea to provide shelter to the Rohingyas in multiple boats carrying them float in dangerous conditions at sea. But no countries responded to the UN call and the Rohingya boats in the waters of Bangladesh were rescued and brought to Bhasan Char by the law enforcement agencies in April.
Dr Masum Iftekhar, Civil Surgeon of Noakhali said a 20-bed hospital has already been set up there. Emergency doctors and health workers have been recruited there. Three local NGOs have also been involved in the process.”
The government has taken steps to ensure medical care for all the Rohingyas arriving there, he added.
There are about one million Rohingyas living in the Ukhia and Teknaf refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, who have crossed the border into Bangladesh since 1991. Most of them came after August 25, 2017, in what the United Nations called the world's fastest-spreading humanitarian crisis.
Regarding the relocation of Rohingyas to Bhasan Char, the United Nations, which is providing relief assistance to Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, says they are not involved in the relocation process.
The UN had proposed a technical assessment before the Rohingyas were relocated to Bhasan Char. And the world body also made conditions for the transfer to be self-motivated.
Government officials say Rohingyas are voluntarily relocating to Bhasan Char.