Bhasan Char, a newly emerged island in Bay of Bengal, has now turned lively with the arrival of 1642 Rohingyas starting a new life on the Island.
Government deserves plaudit for its prudent steps to relocate Rohingyas. The shelter project, built by the Bangladesh government under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy has all modern amenities, year-round fresh water, beautiful lake and proper infrastructure and enhanced facilities.
We have come to know that Rohingyas are now influencing their relatives living in Cox’s Bazaar camps to come to settle at Bhasan Char.
Reportedly, in the face of growing concern over the extreme congestion in the camps of Cox’s Bazaar and to avert any risk of death due to landslides and other unwarranted incidents, the government decided to relocate, in phases, 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char.
Government deserves
plaudit for its prudent steps
to relocate Rohingyas
The influx of the displaced Rohingyas has been causing extensive damage to forest resources of the Cox’s Bazaar region. Rohingyas staying in Cox’s Bazaar District have encroached on a total of 8000 acres of forestland in the region.
It needs no emphasising that the relocation became imperative to protect the environment of Cox’s Bazaar. On top of that, Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazaar had turned into hotbeds of crime.
Criminal gangs, active in the camps, often lock into bloody confrontations over control of markets, Yaba smuggling and human trafficking. Taking all these into consideration, the government embarked on a contingency plan and developed Bhasan Char from its own budgetary allocation.
Economic activities such as fishing, agriculture, goat rearing, etc. that Rohingyas used to pursue in Rakhine state are available in Bhashan Char. Now it is time to involve Rohingyas in income-generating activities. Also Bangladesh should continue its efforts to create a conducive environment so that the Rohingya refugees can return to their homeland with safety, security and dignity.