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NGOs backstab Rohingya relocation

Bhasan Char ready for 1 lakh Rohingyas


Published : 17 Sep 2019 09:38 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 10:41 AM

Although construction of accomodation for one lakh Rohingyas at Bhasan Char of Noakhali has already been completed, the government cannot move them there from Cox’s Bazaar due to propaganda by some national and international organisations. An interministerial meeting to be held soon will discuss the latest situation at Bhasan Char and relocate the Rohingya refugees there. A concrete decision in this regard is expected to be taken in the meeting, sources said.

According to sources at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Bhasan Char under Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali district is completely ready with all amenities to house the Rohingyas. Bangladesh Navy has constructed 144 barrack-houses for 1 lakh Rohingyas there. Besides, local government division, rural development and cooperation division, health division, water resources ministry, fisheries and livestock ministry and other government divisions concerned also have completed their works in Bhasan Char.

But the government could not move any of the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char due to continuous non-cooperation and disagreement among the NGOs, donor and aid organisations, sources said. Donor and aid organisations, and different NGOs have ben opposing the government decision of moving the Rohingya refugees from Ukhiya-Teknaf to Bhasan Char saying that it will be difficult to reach health service, food assistance and other important services there due to poor transportation system there as the place is a raised land known as char (island). 

In this situation, the government took representatives of donor and aid organisations to Bhasan Char and showed them the whole area there.
Although the donors at the beginning had opposed the decision of moving the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char, later they have given some conditions to move them there. One of the conditions is, free movement for the Rohingyas. The donors’ reasoning behind this condition is, the Rohingyas who will move to Bhasan Char will leave their relatives behind at the camps in Cox’s Bazaar. So, they should have the facilities to meet them on occasions of different incidents or accidents.

However, the government has informed the donors that it is not possible to accept the condition as Rohingyas are refugees. Nowhere in the world the refugees can enjoy the right or opportunity to move about freely.

The donors further said that it will be difficult for them to store foodstuff and medicine at Bhasan Char. The government has already constructed godowns for storing foodstuff and medicine there. Besides, a three-story modern rest house and office has been constructed for accommodation of the representatives of donor and aid organisations. In response to another condition of the donors, the government has said that arrangement for education and treatment will also be made there.

The representatives of donor and aid organizations now go to visit Rohingya camps at Cox’s Bazaar by expensive cars through Marine Drive, which will not be possible at Bhasan Char. Anyway, arrangements will be made for smooth transportation there, the government has given the assurance.

Senior secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Shah Kamal said all arrangements have been completed at Bhasan Char for accommodating one lakh Rohingyas. Bangladesh Navy has constructed barracks there. An interministerial meeting will be held today on the issue of moving the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char. A decision is likely to come out from the meeting, he added.

It is worth mentioning that the government has constructed barracks on 45 acres of land at Bhasan Char at a cost of Tk 2,312 crore from its own fund.