Bangladesh initiates relocation of Rohingyas

Dhaka, Dec 3: Bangladesh has started relocating the Rohingyas to the newly developed facility at Bhashan Char Island and has took a step forward in its plan to shift the Rohingyas from the Cox's Bazar Refugee Camp.

 

Hundreds of Rohingyas were recently transported on buses from the Ukhiya Degree College campus in Cox’s Bazar to Chattogram port for being taken to the Bhashan char Island. The government officials have been quoted on international media saying that the process was voluntary.

 

Additional Commissioner of the Office for Refugee Relief and Repatriation Mohammad Shamsud Douza has shared that the refugees are going to Bhashan char happily. He said that the government has taken all measures to deal with disasters, including their comfort and livelihood.

 

The UN on Dec 2 offered to engage in constructive consultations aimed at better understanding of the relocation plan, process and operational issues. It also insisted that the Rohingyas who choose to move to Bhashan Char should have basic human rights including the freedom of movement to and from the mainland as well as access to education, health care and livelihood opportunities.

 

However, on the other hand the International Human Rights groups are opposing the relocation of Rohingyas to the Bhashan Char. They demand for an independent assessment of the liveability on the Bhashan Char by the UN and humanitarian agencies before the process is started.

 

Currently more than a million Rohingya are living in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing the military crackdown in the Rakhine province of Myanmar in August 2017 and the Bangladesh Govt is making arrangements for their sophisticated relocation.