Saleh Noman from Chattogram and Sarwar Azam Manik from Cox’s Bazar
Bringing a drastic change in the management of Rohingya refugee camps, the government in a sudden move on Monday night replaced the existing Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) to Cox’s Bazar. From Thursday next, Department of Disaster Management’s director Joint Secretary Md Mahbub Alam Talukder would succeed the existing RRRC Additional Secretary Abul Kalam in the post, according to a gazette notification issued by the Public Administration Ministry.
In this regard, Abul Kalam on Monday night told Bangladesh Post: “I tried my best to deal with the Rohingya issue. I am going to abide by the government order.” According to the gazette, Kalam, who held the office of RRRC since February 2017, has been made an 'officer on special duty' and attached to the textiles and jute ministry.
Seven camp in-charges were also transferred along with their boss. The decision came after the second botched repatriation effort on Aug 22 and organising of a huge Rohingya rally on August 25 without the government being informed at all. The rally attended by over 100,000 Rohingyas caused a stir among many in the government and the members of the public.
Although the actual reason behind the sudden transfer of the top man on the ground in terms of dealing with the Rohingya crisis could not be immediately known, several sources said, the government is planning major reforms in management of Rohingya refugee camps in Coxs Bazar.
Secretary of Relief and Disaster Management Ministry Shah Kamal claimed, “The changes are regular administrative move made for smooth operation in refugee camps.” “The government's policy of providing humanitarian protection to the Rohingya remains unchanged,” he said. Earlier in last week, the government banned 41 non-government organisations working in camps.
Local administration sources in Coxs Bazar said officials are finalising a new list of relief items that would be allowed to give to Rohingyas in camps by different foreign and local NGOs and the United Nations agencies. Cox’s Bazar Additional District Commissioner Mohammad Asraful Absar said, “We are preparing a reform proposal on management camps and other issues that would be submitted soon to higher authorities for approval.”
“The major points of the proposal are to stop distribution of less important non-food items like cosmetics and house hold goods,” he added. Currently around one million Rohingyas are living in Bangladesh camps including world largest refugee camp in Kutupalang- Balukhali in Ukhia Coxs Bazar.
The Rohingya repatriation efforts have failed twice in the last one year, the first of which was on November 15, 2018 and the second attempt was on August 22 last. The Rohingya refused to be repatriated, demanding that citizenship and security in Myanmar first be ensured. In the second anniversary of Rohingya influx on August 25, the Rohingya also raised objection on various issues of current repatriation process, holding a major showdown in camps.
The government blamed a number of foreign and local NGOs for discouraging the Rohingyas to repatriation. Law enforcers have sized huge number of domestic weapons made to be distributed among the Rohingyas. Sources said; in such a circumstance, local administration felt the need of a reform camp management policies. The government has already taken steps to ban the use of mobile phones by Rohingya refugees within seven days.
“After getting the instructions, we have started working on how to prevent Rohingyas from using mobile phones,” said Wing Commander Azim Ahamed, Commanding Officer of newly deployed elite force Rapid Action Battalion RAB-15 in Coxs Bazar. “As a primary step, all the mobile phone stores in camps are being closed,” he informed.
Meanwhile, the issues of banning some NGOs and transfer of top officers have stirred mixed reactions among NGO sector of Cox's Bazar. “At present, the Rohingya issue has pushed the country into a critical situation; considering the gravity of situation, all should follow the government instructions accurately,” said Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, co-chairman of CSO- NGO Forum in Cox’s Bazar, to Bangladesh Post, adding that all of their member NGOs have been advised so. He also stressed on having clear policies on part of yhe government for how the camps will be operated.