Govt to start transfer of Rohingyas to Bhashan Char after monsoon

The government has planned to start transfer of Rohingya population currently living uncomfortably in cramped camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char after the monsoon.

"We will conduct a go-and-see visit programme first. We expect to commence initial transfer of Rohingyas after the monsoon," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said.

He said some 306 Rohingyas rescued in the Bay of Bengal and sheltered in the Island are doing well and the government will soon conduct a go-and-see visit for relatives of the sheltered Rohingyas and other representatives.

If they find the place better than the cramped camps in Cox’s Bazar, the Foreign Secretary said they expect to commence initial transfer of Rohingyas there after the monsoon.

He said the UN teams are expected to visit Bhashan Char and prepare UN System’s assistance response.

“We may also arrange visit of human rights groups and select media to appreciate the facilities created,” Masud said.

The Foreign Secretary was speaking at a webinar on "The Rohingya Crisis: Western, Asian, and Bilateral Perspectives" organised by the Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), North South University, Bangladesh in partnership with the High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh.

In order to reduce all these risks, Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh has invested hundreds of millions of US dollars on infrastructural development of the Bhashan Char Island to accommodate a maximum of 100,000 people.

Masud said the island has provisions for 120 clusters. Each cluster can house 768 persons in 12 houses. A total of 1,440 houses and 120 shelter stations have been built. “We have undertaken efforts to make the island ready for habitation.”

Highlighting the arrangements, he said the government has arranged adequate health, sanitary facility and vaccination, with referral system for complicated health conditions. It also created temporary works and livelihood options (salt-tolerant paddy, horticulture, fisheries, poultry and animal husbandry). It also arranged primary-non-formal and formal-education which can be extended to secondary education. Vocational education and skill development facility may be established in due course.

The Foreign Secretary said the mighty cyclone Amphan has attested to the durability of the island and quality of the structures built. “Detractors should now stop their propaganda on Bhashan Char and examine how to relieve pressure off from the highly congested Cox’s Bazar area where locals are outnumbered at a ratio of 2:1.” He said third country resettlement (TCR) as an alternative to Bhashan Char relocation is a welcome thought.

“Given the past experience of TCR globally in recent years, this cannot be a serious option, other than some countries getting the satisfaction of offering something new. If a group of countries can jointly offer to take over half a million Rohingyas in a time span of 1-2 years, we may consider examining it.”

He urged countries to convince Myanmar to bring changes in Rakhine and implement the repatriation arrangements.

On efforts to repatriation of Rohingyas, the Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh from the very beginning tried to find a peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis through bilateral consultation. “We engaged Myanmar early for sustainable repatriation in an environment of safety, security and dignity.”

At Myanmar’s insistence and encouragement of a few other countries, Bangladesh tried repatriation twice. Failure of these efforts attest to the fact that Rohingyas do not feel comfortable in the prevailing condition, which do not make returnees convinced of the sincerity of the Myanmar authorities and also of the majority community - Buddhists of Rakhine, he added.

“Bangladesh expects friends of Myanmar and other countries in the region to convince Myanmar of the imperative to make material changes in Rakhine -- security-wise, economically and politically,” he said.

The Foreign Secretary expects that the UN agencies would soon develop skill development programmes for the Rohingya youths and locals in consultation with Bangladesh authorities. There could be other kinds of improvement of short-term amenities and facilities if we have adequate support from the international partners.

However, he said, “I must clarify here that we would certainly not prefer investments which will directly or indirectly prolong the refugee situation and create greater and newer pull factors for remaining Rohingyas inside Rakhine.”

Bangladesh Government rejects any notion of local integration.

“We would expect interested partners to talk to Myanmar Government and make such long-term investments on health, education, livelihood, connectivity for Rohingyas in northern Rakhine. So far, we discern no such efforts for remaining Rohingyas inside Rakhine,” Masud observed.

Former Foreign Minister of Malaysia Syed Hamid Albar, US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl R. Miller, former Foreign Secretary and senior fellow of NSU Md Shahidul Haque, Canadian High Commissioner Benoit Préfontaine, Prof Atiqul Islam and Dr Ishrat Zakia Sultana of NSU also spoke at the webinar.