The process of relocating one lakh Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar camp to Bhasan Char will begin on completion of erecting barbed-wire fences. Bangladesh Army has started erecting barbed-wire fences around the Rohingya camps in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar so that they cannot leave the camp.
The refugees will be relocated soon from the overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char, an Island of Bay of Bengal under Noakhali, a southern coastal district. According to a Disaster Management and Relief Ministry source, there will be at least five camps in Bhasan Char, which are under well-managed facilities including education, health and other basic supports.
The initiative is being taken to relieve the refugees from the miserable conditions of living in the overcrowded camps. Surveillance on Rohingyas refugees is also being strengthened. Moreover, work to set up watchtowers and close circuit cameras is underway to improve the surveillance on Rohingyas.
The refugees will be relocated soon from the
overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char,
an Island of Bay of Bengal under
Noakhali, a southern coastal district
Firstly, due to the massive number of refugees, the environment has been adversely affected and is quickly being depleted of precious resources. The huge amount of refugees living in the camps has also resulted in the production of waste. The residents of the camps have been polluting the area indiscriminately and there is no proper waste management system in place.
Many Rohingyas have already expressed interest to be shifted to Bashan Char. Based on this the authorities have completed all preparations to start the relocation. The UN has commended the government’s initiative to offer alternative locations for refugees to settle, which could help decongest the overcrowded settlements in Cox’s Bazar and reduce pressure on affected host communities. This will also reduce the negative impact on the
environment. However, we hope that this initiative has no negative impact on the repatriation process that is underway.