The Japan government has decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of total two million USD for supporting displaced "Rohingyas" on Bhasan Char.    This contribution includes one million USD to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and one million USD to World Food Programme (WFP), a press release issued by the Japanese embassy said in Dhaka today (Friday).    The fund would be used for implementing humanitarian assistance activities for the displaced "Rohingyas", who are in need of urgent assistance in Bhasan Char in areas such as food and health.    Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka ITO Naoki said his government supports steady and smooth operations of the international organizations under the MoU signed between the Bangladesh Government and the United Nations in October 2021, which is a basic framework of assistance for Bhasan Char.    "Resolving Rohingya issues is of utmost importance for the peace and stability of the region," he said.    The envoy appreciated Bangladesh government's efforts to protect "Rohingya" people and the dedicated work of the international organizations.    Japan expects the UN will respond to prevailing and increasing humanitarian and protection needs on the island, and strongly hopes that this assistance will contribute to better service delivery and improve living conditions of people living on Bhasan Char" Naoki said.    Japan will continue to stand by Bangladesh and work towards the early repatriation of displaced "Rohingya" to Myanmar, said the Japanese mission in Dhaka.   Finding durable solutions to this crisis is significant not only to Bangladesh but also to the stability of the entire region, and thereby conducive to the realization of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific", which is a vision to secure peace, stability and prosperity in the region, said the release. Source: BSS AH

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today (Saturday) expressed his hope that Bangladesh would be able to fulfill its target of relocating one lakh Rohingyas to Bhasan Char from congested Cox’s Bazar camps by one year as UNHCR agreed to work on it.    “We have already relocated nearly 18,500 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char … we will resume relocating them (to the island) this month,” he told reporters at Tungipara in Gopalganj.    The foreign minister retreated that the relocation of Rohingyas to the island of Bhasan Char would be fully voluntary.          Dr Momen hoped that Myanmar will take back Rohingyas gradually as pressure on them would mount following the recent adoption of a resolution in the United Nations.   "I believe pressure will be mounted on Myanmar as the resolution has been passed by consensus," he added.    The foreign minister, accompanied by the Sylhet Awami League (AL) leaders, paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreath at his grave in Tungipara.   President and general secretary of Sylhet city unit AL and valiant freedom fighter Masuk Uddin Ahmed and Professor M Zakir Hossain, among others, also paid tribute to Bangabandhu. Source: BSS AH

Bangladesh government and the United Nations (UN) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a common protection and policy framework for humanitarian response to Rohingya in Bhasan Char.   The MoU was inked between the country's disaster management and relief ministry and the UNHCR, on behalf of UN agencies working on the Rohingya response in Bangladesh, at the secretariat in Dhaka. The MoU is a further expression of the government and people of Bangladesh's generosity and support toward the Rohingya population until they can return safely and sustainably to Myanmar, said an UNHCR media release after the signing ceremony.    The MoU is also a reconfirmation of the UN's commitment to continue supporting Bangladesh in leading the humanitarian programme for almost 900,000 forcefully displaced Rohingyas in the country, it added.   The agreement relating to Bhasan Char allows close cooperation between the government and the UN on services and activities to benefit the increasing numbers of Rohingyas living on the island.   The MoU covers key areas of protection, education, skills-training, livelihoods and health, which will help support Rohingyas to lead decent lives on the island and better prepare them for sustainable return to Myanmar in the future.   The UN response will build up and complement the humanitarian assistance so far provided by Bangladeshi NGOs on the island, said the release.   Prior to signing the MoU, the UN has held discussions with the Rohingya community in Cox's Bazar, as well as those already on the island, including during the UN visit to Bhasan Char in March 2021, to better understand their needs and views.    These discussions, as well as those with Government counterparts and Bangladeshi NGOs working on the island are expected to continue on a regular basis and further inform any humanitarian and protection responses on Bhasan Char, said the UNHCR.   The statement said the UN encourages the international community to increase its generous support to the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, recognising that the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Response in Cox's Bazar is currently less than half funded for this year.   This support should continue until they (Rohingyas) are able to return to Myanmar in a safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable manner, which remains a shared priority of the UN and Government of Bangladesh, as well as the desire of the Rohingyas in the country, it added.   Bangladesh Navy has implemented the Ashryan-3 at Bhashan Char, an island of Bay of Bengal, at the cost of Tk 3100 crore for accommodating 100,000 Rohingyas while so far nearly 20,000 Rohingyas have been relocated in the island from Cox's Bazar.    A total of 120 brick-built cluster villages and 120 cyclone shelters, facilities for education, hospital, farming and fishing, playground and presence of law enforcers make the island a much better living place for the Rohingyas than that of Cox's Bazar camps.    Since August 25 in 2017, Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and most of them arrived there after a military crackdown by Myanmar, which the UN called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and other rights groups dubbed as "genocide".    Bangladesh so far provided the neighbour biometric data of 8,30,000 Rohingyas while the Myanmar authority by now verified only 42,000 of them.    Myanmar, however, is yet to return a single Rohingya in the last four years while repatriation attempts failed twice due to trust deficit among the Rohingyas about their safety and security in Rakhine state. Source: BSS AH

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed optimism that the United States (US) would continue necessary assistance to Rohingyas including those now settled in Bhashan Char. He also stated that the US may consider accepting a good number of forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh as US President Joe Biden recently announced to enhance the admission of refugees in his country to 62,500 in 2021 and 125,000 in 2022. The foreign minister made the remarks while US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller called on him at foreign ministry on Thursday, a foreign office press release said here today (Friday). The Ambassador informed that, during the upcoming launch of the annual Joint Response Plan (JRP) on 18 May 2021 in Geneva, the US is expected to pledge again for large contribution to the humanitarian operation for Rohingyas. Dr Momen also assured the US side of Bangladesh’s cooperation on the ongoing investigation about the genocide against Rohingyas in Myanmar, as reinitiated by the Biden Administration. The foreign minister also urged the US envoy to address the difficulties being faced by a large number of Bangladeshi student visa applicants to obtain visa interview date in the US Embassy in Dhaka, as many may lose admission and scholarship due to the delay. Miller assured of doing the best to ensure that all student visa applicants get interview slots on a priority basis once the lockdown is over, so that they can join their academic sessions in US universities on time. At the meeting, the main point of discussion was on the process of acquiring AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the US to meet the growing needs in Bangladesh to address the present shortfall. Dr Momen underscored that, while the immediate need of Bangladesh is around 4 million doses of vaccine, the US government may consider providing 20 million AstraZeneca vaccine to Bangladesh from its stock. The US Ambassador assured that his government is sincerely working on the proposal, though this is difficult to predict any time frame at this moment. He also informed that the US is yet to provide any AstraZeneca vaccine to India, and hopefully Bangladesh will get the vaccine at the same time India gets. Momen also welcomed US President Joe Biden’s declaration to support Intellectual Property Waiver for vaccines in the WTO, and expressed optimism that this would enable developing countries, including Bangladesh, to produce US vaccines in near future. Momen and Miller also discussed the ways and means of bolstering bilateral cooperation, specially in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation including possible mutual engagement before and during the COP26 of the UNFCCC scheduled in November 2021 in Glasgow. They also reviewed mutual support between Bangladesh and the US in different elections in the UN system including in the UN Human Rights Council. Source: BSS AH

A total of 1,778 Rohingyas reached Bhasanchar from Chattogram city’s Patenga Boat Club in the third phase as part of their relocation under the supervision of Bangladesh Navy today (Friday) after 29 days later of second batch. Earlier, they came to Patenga from Ukhiya Balukhali camp in Cox’s Bazar and started their journey with the help of five naval ships for Bhasan Char around 10.20 am today after an overnight stay at a temporary transit camp of BAF Shaheen College in Chattogram. The first group of 1,642 Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char on December 4 and the second batch of 1,804 Rohingya people on December 29, in 2020 under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, the Navy sources said. Mohammad Samsuddauja, additional commissioner of the government’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Office, told BSS that the third batch of 1,778 Rohingyas reached at Bhasan Char around 3 pm today from city’s Patenga Boat Club under the supervision of the Navy with the help of four naval ships. He also said that more than 1,300 Rohingya Refugees will also go to the Bashan Char tomorrow (January 30). Concerned people informed that near one lakh Rohingyas will be taken to Bhasan Char in phases. In the first phase, about 3,500 Rohingyas has already been taken there. Besides, food items have been stored in Bhasan Char for three months. Initially, cooked food will be provided to Rohingyas by different NGO’s. Representatives of 22 NGOs have started their respective works at Bhasan Char for this. Jasmine Prema, chairperson of the Social Welfare and Development Organisation, said the government and 22 development agencies have been working to send only interested Rohingyas to Bhasan Char. Before boarding the ship, the Rohingyas were given tokens and keys of the allotted shelter homes after various data entries. In addition to modern accommodation for the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds have already been set up, she added. Mohammad Samsuddauja also said that buffaloes, sheep, ducks and pigeons are being reared there for gearing up economic activities. “Different types of vegetables are being planted. Paddy is also being cultivated experimentally there,” he added. “Cluster villages have been constructed in the project with the aim of accommodating one lakh one thousand 360 refugees, he said, adding that the number of houses is 14,400 in 120 cluster villages. He further said that the government has provided infrastructure of 120 cluster villages on the 13,000-acres of char land at a cost of Taka 3,095 crore with its own fund to accommodate more than one lakh Rohingya people. Source: BSS AH

The government today cleared that the Rohingyas, who were relocated to Bhasan Char, decided to be shifted there voluntarily, saying there was no question of the use of force to relocate them. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the numerous challenges associated with the temporary hosting of persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar has compelled the government of Bangladesh to plan relocation of 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhashan Char. Accordingly, 1642 Rohingyas were relocated to Bhashan Char on 4 December 2020. The second batch, comprising 1804 Rohingyas, has been transferred from Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char today (Wednesday). The government would like to make it unambiguously clear that the relocation process, which was commenced on 4 December 2020, in line with the GOB’s efforts to decongest and de-risk the camps, strictly followed the principle of voluntariness and was conducted with utmost transparency. There was no question of the use of force, intimidation or the use of money to influence the decision of the participants. The Rohingyas, who were relocated, decided to be shifted there voluntarily, as was widely reported by the print and the electronic media. In fact, initially the authority arranged for the relocation of a lesser number of Rohingyas. However, due to increased interest and enthusiasm, eventually more Rohingyas volunteered and participated in the relocation process willingly, the statement said. The relocation took place in the presence of representatives of media, civil society and NGOs. None of them raised any question of coercion or use of force. Rather, when interviewed, the Rohingyas informed that they were encouraged by the positive reports on Bhashan Char that were shared with them by their relatives who were already in the island. The government would like to reemphasise that Bhashan Char is completely safe and suitable for human habitation. The 30 years’ old island has all the amenities including healthcare, drinking water, options for economic activities, cyclone shelters etc. The island offers enough space for the free movement of the Rohingyas. Bangladesh Inland water transport corporation (BIWTC) has already introduced regular sea-truck service between Bhashan Char and Noakhali. It is a known fact that the geographic location of Bangladesh has exposed the country to regular natural disasters like cyclone and flood. However, the country’s resilience in the face of natural disaster is well-acclaimed. Over the years, Bangladesh has developed effective disaster management system. For Bhashan Char, much better infrastructure has been put in place involving renowned international companies. The British firm HR Wallingford was involved in the stability survey of the island. In fact, the island was developed as per their recommendation and design. The flood and shore protection measures with 12.1 km long and sufficiently higher embankment designed by the HR Wallingford secures the island from massive tidal waves and cyclones. This is supplemented by the installation of modern hydrographic monitoring and warning system that can provide early warning on any natural hazards and enable prior evacuation. The efficacy and strength of the infrastructure of Bhashan Char and its disaster protection measures have been tested during the deadly cyclone AMPHAN. To address any extreme situation, there are arrangements for evacuation in a timely manner as per GOB’s disaster response management framework, according to the ministry. The government has also ensured sufficient safety measures for the Rohingyas in Bhashan Char. The island is under 24 hr CCTV coverage. Deployment of law enforcement agencies, female police personnel, hospitals and community clinics fully manned with trained health professionals including female health professionals, etc have ensured the security of the inhabitants of the island. Since the relocation of the first batch, three new births took place in Bhashan Char. All these three new-born along with their mothers are in good health. Efforts are also underway to involve the relocated Rohingyas in various activities such as fishing, agriculture and other livelihood activities. A high-level committee, under the direct supervision of the Principal Secretary, has been monitoring the activities in Bhashan Char. The government wishes to thank the CSOs and the NGOs that are partnering with it in its relocation efforts. The government welcomes and expects involvement of more CSOs to open their operations in Bhashan Char. At the same time, the GOB reiterates its stance on the involvement of the UN in the process and is ready to facilitate participation of the UN as per its mandate. However, the government is dismayed to see the generation of distorted and misinformation surrounding Bhashan Char and the relocation process. “It is also disheartening that instead of appreciating the good intention of Bangladesh, some quarters have resorted to orchestrating misinformation to create confusion among the international community,” the statement said. “As we repeatedly mentioned, the problem is created by Myanmar and its solution lies solely with Myanmar. Therefore, instead of mounting undue and unjustified pressure on Bangladesh, the international community including the UN/INGOs/international humanitarian and human rights organizations must focus on the egregious human rights violations that the Rohingyas have been facing for generations in Myanmar.” The statement said the UN should send a technical and protection assessment team to Myanmar to assess the situation of the existing Rohingyas and also to see the preparation for repatriation on the ground. It should be remembered that Rohingyas are Myanmar nationals. Bangladesh has been hosting them on a temporary basis purely out of humanitarian gesture. Any arrangement in Bangladesh for Rohingyas is solely temporary in nature. The ministry said Rohingyas want to return to their homeland-Myanmar and all need to work constructively to that end. “Now that the election of Myanmar is over, we look forward to visible engagement of the international community with Myanmar for an urgent and early repatriation of these displaced and persecuted Myanmar nationals to their homeland,” the statement added. Source: BSS AH

Bangladesh has conveyed to the UN refugee agency that the international community has no reason to worry about relocation of Rohingyas to Bhasan Char. Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations (UN) offices and other international organizations in Geneva Ambassador Md Mustafizur Rahman shared the logical points behind such voluntary relocation during a virtual meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi on Wednesday. Ambassador Mustafizur said no Rohingya could be repatriated over the last three years due to lact of political will from Myanmar despite Bangladesh’s sincere efforts to send back the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State. He said Rohingyas were relocated to Bhasan Char volunatarily and drew attention to Grandi about the reports both from the international and local media outlets about the relocation of the first batch of Rohingyas. The Ambassador said the government as directed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave shelter to Rohingyas on humanitarian ground. In the face of growing concerns over the extreme congestion in Cox’s Bazar camps and to avert any risk of death due to landslides and other unwarranted incidents, the government of Bangladesh has decided to relocate, in phases, 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhashan Char. Accordingly, in the first phase, more than 1,600 Rohingyas who expressed their willingness for relocation were shifted to Bhashan Char on December 4. Bangladesh has urged all to exercise utmost caution not to undermine or misinterpret the genuine efforts of the government of Bangladesh noting that the voluntary relocation of Rohingyas to Bhasan Char has become imperative to decongest the overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar. "The Rohingyas are Myanmar nationals and they must return to Myanmar. The government of Bangladesh is doing its best for the safety and security of these temporarily sheltered Myanmar Nationals," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement. Bangladesh has encouraged human rights groups to put their efforts in creating a conducive environment inside Myanmar for their quick, safe and dignified repatriation to their land of origin, Myanmar. At this stage, it is only practical that the international community, including the United Nations, fulfills its responsibility and meaningfully engage with Myanmar to start repatriation, which is the only durable solution to this crisis, the statement reads. The relocation has become imperative to decongest the overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar that have temporarily been accommodating nearly a million of Rohingyas with many more thousands born each year, said the MoFA statement. It said the deteriorating security situation due to prolonged stay of these frustrated people in Cox’s Bazar also compelled the government of Bangladesh to come up with a contingency plan and develop Bhashan Char from its own budgetary allocation. Source: UNB AH

After much debate and speculation a team of Rohingyas who took shelter at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, have reached in Bhasan Char on Friday. On this occasion Bhasan Char was decorated with banners and festoons welcoming Rohingyas. Starting from Chattogram in the morning the Rohingya team reached in Bhasan Char in the afternoon boarded on three ships of Bangladesh Navy. The shifting process has begun through sending the Rohingyas who voluntarily wanted to go. In the first phase 1642 Rohingyas including men, women and children reached in Bhasan Char. According to the local source, there were 810 children, 368 men and 464 women. A Navy official, not willing to be named, said that medical checkup of all Rohingya people were done in Bhasan Char. Then the Navy officials briefed them. After briefing the Rohingya people were kept in the cluster number 7,8,9 and 10 which were ready for them. To receive the Rohingya people Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) of Noakhali Md. Noman Hossain, Additional Police Super Dipak Jyoti Khisa and Hatia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Imran Hossain reached earlier in the island. Members of law enforcement agencies and high ranked officers of Bangladesh Navy were present at that time. Concerned source said, a temporary transit point was set up at Ukhiya College ground to take the Rohingya people from 34 camps in Ukhiya-Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. Then they were taken to Chattogram boarded on 20 buses. Rohingyas willing to go in Bhasan Char, were kept in a makeshift camp on BAF Shaheen College ground in Chattogram. They were moved to the ships from Patenga moorage of Navy. Earlier, representatives of 22 NGOs visited the island in the Bay of Bengal centering the Rohingya shifting activities. 66 tons of food items were stocked there for the Rohingya people. Hatia Upazila Health Officer Dr. Nazim Uddin said, by this time two 20-bed hospitals have been made ready to ensure health service for the Rohingya people living in Bhasan Char. Meanwhile, 14 ships of Bangladesh Navy have been made ready to take the Rohingya people in Bhasan Char. For the first two months cooked foods will be supplied to them. After that they will be able to cook food in their own homes. In the island of Bhasan Char homes were erected keeping all types of facilities. There are special measures to protect people from storm and tidal surge. In September the government took 40 Rohingya leaders including two women to Bhasan Char to inspect the shifting process. They expressed their satisfaction after watching the arrangements. They also inspired others to go to Bhasan Char. Two years ago the government took the decision to shift one lakh Rohingyas in Bhasan Char. But it was not possible due to their unwillingness. Then the government took active initiatives to send Rohingyas in Bhasan Char after seeing their positive attitude without any force. The government is hopeful that if the first team can be sent to Bhasan Char safely then others will be inspired to go there. Bhasan Char has been prepared to shelter more than one lakh people by making 120 cluster villages in the 13 thousand acres area of island with expense of two thousand 312 crore taka from the government’s own fund. Currently more than three hundred Rohingyas are residing in Bhasan Char who failed to go to Malaysia. AH