Don’t misinterpret genuine efforts to relocate Rohingyas: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Bangladesh government has asked everyone to exercise utmost caution not to undermine or misinterpret its genuine efforts to improve lives and livelihood of the Rohingyas through relocation to Bhasan Char.

The call comes as the government today relocated 1,642 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal under Hatiya upazila of Noakhali.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government decided to relocate the Rohingyas in face of growing concern over the extreme congestion in the Cox's Bazar camps and to avert risk of death due to landslides and other unwarranted incidents.

The government invested more than $350.00 million to develop the housing project on 13,000 acres that have all modern amenities, year-round fresh water, uninterrupted electricity supply, agricultural plots, cyclone shelters, two hospitals, four community clinics, mosques, warehouses, telecommunication services, police station, recreation and learning centers, playgrounds.

The Bhasan Char project is strongly-built with concrete foundation, which can withstand natural disasters such as cyclones and tidal waves, and super cyclone Amphan proved the strength of the structures there. Despite the heightened tidal wave, all the 1440 houses and 120 shelter stations in the island remained unharmed. The island is connected with the mainland through waterways, it said.

The government has ensured adequate supply of food along with proper sanitation and medical facilities for Rohingyas in Bhasan Char. Proper hospitals with highly qualified health professionals, adequate covid-19 testing and treatment facilities are also in place, the statement said.

In addition to government agencies, around 22 NGOs are already there to extend all possible support to relocated Rohingyas.

The foreign ministry said the government position on relocation has been transparent since the beginning that it would be entirely on a voluntary basis.

A number of NGOs and journalists also visited the island, it said, adding all of them expressed satisfaction about it. More importantly, the relocation was preceded by several rounds of discussions, based on the queries of the UN.

"We hope that the international community and the United Nations, as per its mandate, will be involved in the process very soon."

At this stage, it is only practical that the international community including the UN fulfills their responsibility and meaningfully engage with Myanmar to commence repatriation, it said, urging all to exercise utmost caution so the government efforts are not undermined or misinterpreted.

"We would encourage human rights groups to put their efforts in creating conducive environment inside Myanmar for their quick, safe and dignified repatriation to their land of origin, Myanmar," the foreign ministry said.