'No reason for international community to be concerned about Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char'

There is no reason for the international community to be concerned over the Rohingya relocation to Bhashan Char, said Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva today.

During a virtual discussion with UN High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, he presented the rationale of Rohingya relocation to the housing project on the island under Hatiya upazila of Noakhali.

The government transferred 1,642 Rohingyas there on December 4 as part of its plan to shift 100,000 Rohingyas from the crowded camps in Cox's Bazar. Rights groups and the international community criticised the relocation, saying it is a low-lying land, but the government said all the protection measures were in place in Bhashan Char.

Mostafizur Rahman said despite Bangladesh's sincere efforts, Rohingya repatriation could not be started in more than three years after some 750,000 Rohingyas fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State, said a foreign ministry statement.

The ambassador mentioned that presence of about a million Rohingyas in a limited space has become risky. It left the local livelihood, environment and socio-economic situation under threat. There were also security challenges in the crowded camps.

Ambassador Rahman said all measures for a better life, livelihood and protection have been in place for the Rohingyas at Bhashan Char. Local and international media too published reports on the relocation to Bhashan Char.

He said the Rohingyas were sheltered in Bangladesh fully on humanitarian grounds under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and called on the international community to take a strong role for the repatriation of the refugees.

The Bangladesh diplomat called on the neighbouring states, ASEAN and investors to Myanmar to play a responsible role in Rohingya repatriation.

Filippo Grandi lauded Bangladesh for providing shelter and humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas, and stressed that the only sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis is in their repatriation to Myanmar.

He assured of continuing UN efforts towards this end.