Sarwar Azam Manik, Cox's Bazar
Country's largest shelter centre has been set up at Khurushkul in Cox’s Bazar for climate refugees. The Prime Minister will officially inaugurate it today (July 23) through video conference.
A total of 4,409 families displaced by the climate caused cyclone will get shelter here. In the first phase, 600 families will get shelter in the 20 buildings. Those who have already received the keys to the flat are happy and expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister. They demand that all the affected families be rehabilitated as soon as possible.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Cox's Bazar Md. Kamal Hossain said that besides ensuring all the facilities in this modern shelter centre, a special tourist area would be developed here.
After the catastrophic cyclone of 1991, thousands of people from Kutubdia, Maheshkhali lost their homes and settled in government Khas lands in Nazirartek, Kutubdia Para and Samiti Para adjacent to the airport of Ward No. 1 in Cox's Bazar Municipality.
SM Akhtar Kamal, councilor of ward 1 of Cox's Bazar municipality, said 60,000 people had taken refuge in those areas due to climate change, including cyclones at different times. But, the government took initiative to relocate the refugees living on the government Khas land in the vicinity to turn the airport into an international one.
Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Asraful Abshar said the Khurushkul Special Shelter Project was initiated in 2016 on about 254 acres of land at
Khuruskul in Cox's Bazar Sadar along the Bankkhali River. After the work order in March 2017, the work of this project went under the supervision of Bangladesh Army. In the meantime, 20 buildings of the shelter have been completed. Flats have also been allotted to 600 families in these buildings. The Prime Minister will inaugurate it on July 23.
People living in huts are very happy and grateful to get a permanent residence address in such beautiful buildings. Climate refugees Rafiqul Islam, Atiqul Islam and Borhan expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister and said, “For so many days we had no definite address. For the last 29 years, I have been living here with various risks, including eviction at the risk of my life. Now there is no more fear as the government has given us a residence”.
Akhtar Kamal and Humayun Kabir, climate refugees from Kutubdia, and resident of Ward 1 of Cox's Bazar Municipality, said, "After so many years the Prime Minister has given us basic rights and we are expressing gratitude to the daughter of Bangabandhu”.
Welcoming the special initiative of the government, Jasim Uddin, UP chairman of the union said, “The shelter demands special measures to maintain law and order. Now there will be various kinds of pressure on my union. First of all, we have to take initiative to maintain law and order”.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. Kamal Hossain said the Prime Minister herself had taken up the special project to prevent the eviction of climate refugees for the development and expansion of the airport. For the first time in history, any government has set up permanent settlements for climate refugees. He further said that 600 families will get residence in 20 buildings. There will be 32 families in each building. After the construction of other buildings, 4,409 families will be taken in phases. Where all civic amenities will be ensured.
The DC also said Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has been given 100 acres of land next to the shelter project on which various tourist spots including 10 storied Sheikh Hasina Tower will be built. In the Khurushkul Special Shelter Project has 139 5-storied buildings and a 10-storied tower which will be made by the army in phases.
Cox's Bazar Superintendent of Police ABM Masud Hossain told that papers have been sent to the ministry asking for a police outpost for the Khurushkul special shelter project. Special measures will be taken by the Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station to maintain law and order in the area till the police leave.
For the first time in the history of Bangladesh, after providing shelter to 1.1 million Rohingya from a humanitarian point, the issue of permanent settlement for climate refugees may be a rare example for the world.
