Lawmaker and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Vice Chairman Dr Habibe Millat on Wednesday said they have visited Bhasan Char and found that Rohingyas are enjoying better life in the remote island than their lives in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The Red Crescent Society's humanitarian assistance activities will continue for Rohingya refugees, he added.
Millat made the remarks while taking to the reporters at the Chattogram Boat Club after distributing relief goods to Rohingyas in Bhasan Char on Wednesday.
The Red Crescent has distributed hygiene kits, dignity kits, sleeping mats, blankets and jerrycan relief to 500 families in Bhasan Char.
Hafiz Ahmed Majumder, chairman of Red Crescent, Chittagong City Unit, gave an overview of the relief distribution activities and future plans with them in an exchange of views meeting chaired by MA Salam, acting chairman of the society. Treasurer Lutfur Rahman Chowdhury Helal, Managing Board Member Dr. Sheikh Shafiul Azam, Advocate Shihab Uddin Shahin, Secretary General Md. Firoz Salah Uddin, Director of Disaster Response Department of the Society Md. Mizanur Rahman were present on the occasion.
On December 4, the government completed the voluntary relocation of the first batch of 1,642 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char, a remote island in the Bay of Bengal off Noakhali district that only emerged from the sea 20 years ago.
These refugees went to the island voluntarily leaving overcrowding Cox’s Bazar camps that are home to more than 1 million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority who have fled a neighbouring Myanmar.
They were among more than 730,000 Rohingya who fled Myanmar in 2017 following a military-led crackdown that the United Nations said was executed with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says its forces were targeting Rohingya militants who attacked police post
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, as an affiliate of the government, takes part in dealing with any disaster.
It has been providing various humanitarian assistance through the society through health care, water and sanitation, food and non-food items, DRR activities.
The job of the Red Crescent is to stand by the people in times of danger, Chairman Hafiz Ahmed Majumder said.
Operation of Red Crescent’s Bangladesh chapter have now been appreciated in the world since 200,000 volunteers work with it, he added.