The United Nations (UN) is going to take part in humanitarian assistance activities in Bhasanchar, Noakhali where 18,521 Rohingyas were shifted from Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh government shifted those Rohingya people in six phases. In this regard an agreement is going to be signed on Saturday between Ministry for Disaster Management and Relief and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Md. Mohsin, Secretary of ministry for disaster management and relief confirmed the information on Wednesday evening. Different matters of the agreement have been finalized by this time. According to an official source, a set of conditions were given on behalf of the UN. Of those there were conditions like- freedom of movement for Rohingyas, opportunity for education and employment, opportunity to take part in election. Of those Bangladesh government has granted some conditions partially and some were rejected. The government has planned to relocate one lakh Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar to Bhasanchar. At first UN opposed the initiatives but after visiting the island they mentioned the environment as satisfactory. It is to be noted that the government spent 2,312 crore taka to turn the island livable for Rohingyas. AH         

More 2,010 Rohingyas have reached at Bhasanchar under Hatia upazila in Noakhali district in fourth phase. They started towards the island boarded on five ships of Bangladesh Navy at around 10 am on Monday from Boat Club of Chattogram. The Rohingyas reached at Bhasanchar at around 1:30 pm. Abdul Karim, one of the members of the team said that he has a six-member family. They were passing their days with hardship at Cox’s Bazar camp. They willingly decided to come at Bhasanchar to live well. On Sunday the Rohingya teams reached in Chattogram from Cox’s Bazar. By this time 6,688 Rohingyas were relocated at Bhasanchar island from different camps in Cox’s Bazar in three phases. Currently 11 lakh registered Rohingyas are living in 34 shelter centers at Ukhiya and Teknaf. AH

Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said, the process is underway to shift one lakh Rohingyas in Bhasanchar from the shelter centers in Cox’s Bazar. But only those who want to go voluntarily will be shifted. The foreign minister said this to the newsmen at his ministry office on Monday. He also criticized the statement of United Nations as they raised question about Rohingya relocation. Abdul Momen said, the United Nations did not initiate any formal proposal to visit Bhasanchar. They may go there anytime and in this regard the government has preparations. The impact of Rohingya relocation will not influence repatriation diplomacy. The foreign minister urged United Nations to play more endeavoring steps on types of steps taken by Myanmar to ensure sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas. He said, Rohingyas are being taken to Bhasanchar on a temporary basis. The main aim of the government is to send back this evicted population. Bangladesh will begin discussion with newly formed government of Myanmar on the issue of repatriation. AH   

Disaster Management and Relief secretary Md. Shah Kamal said that 1 lakh Rohingyas will be relocated at Bhasanchar in Hatia upazila under Noakhali district within the month of September. He said this at a training camp on trial for needful task during disaster period at the Rohingya camps organized at the Balukhali Rohingya camp at Ukhiya upazila under Cox’s Bazar district on Saturday. Shah Kamal said, infrastructural development works including residential facilities are going on for the people who came here to take shelter following persecution by the Myanmar soldiers. They will be shifted to Bhasanchar by September after concluding the construction work by August. 35 thousand Rohingya families are at risk during the rainy season. The secretary said, more than 1 lakh 32 thousand people from the registered 11 lakh 17 thousand Rohingya population are living in risky areas. The government has taken necessary steps to protect the belongings of them at the time of natural calamity in the rainy season. The program was organized by Fire Service department where army Chief of General Staff Lt. General Mahfuzur Rahman, 10th infantry division GOC Major General Maksudur Rahman and other senior officials from army, BGB and RAB were also present. Bhasanchar is situated on 20 kilometers east of the main land of Hatia. The size of the char is more than 13 thousand acres. The works for constructing the embankments surrounding the char is going on in full swing to rehabilitate the Rohingyas. Moreover infrastructural and road construction work is going on. According to the concerned, 10 lakh Rohingyas can be rehabilitated here over the next two years. AH