In last three four months there are rumor both in Dhaka and Coxsbazar that UN agencies and different developed countries pressurizing government to allow to construct permanent/ semi-permanent shelter for Rohingya community in the camp. As there are new government sworn in and there are so called west friendly Foreign Minister and in this initial time, they are raising this issue.

As a part of the process, Secretary of MODMR (Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief) visited Coxsbazar in last weekend (23 to 25th April) to talk with relevant people.

We, the COAST and the CCNF (you will find those reports in our websites) we have had campaign since 2017 proposing prefabricated two-story shelter for Rohingya community in the camp area. Prefabricated means, iron and wooden structure with frame will be prepared in factory then it will be fix in the camp, then later when the Rohingya community will leave the country that structure could be dismantle easily. At any cost there should not be any pucca or concrete structure in the camp area. Coxsbazar has already lost around 800 or 8000 acres of forest and cultivable land to give shelter the Rohingya community.

Please note that these forest is one of the livelihood source of the Ukhiya Teknaf community, around 300 acres of land out of these lands are not cultivable due to waste fallen from the camp. Coxsbazar is the second highest food insecurity district of the country.

Any permanent and semi-permanent structure not only jeopardize livelihood of local people, but it will be a wrong signal to Mayanmar and Rohingya community, that will damage our effort for repatriation negotiation. UN agencies they give reasons that Rohingya community live in a cramped place, which is around per km around 44 thousand people. But, in Dhaka city alone in Muhammadpur area there are 90 thousand people lives, in Kutubdia island which is my birthplace, there are per km around 7 to 10 thousand people living.

As local representative COAST and CCNF wanted to have access to a meeting with Secretary of MODMR in Coxsbazar, but it was denied by organizing authorities.

It is said that only shelter sector committee will be allowed to participate in the committee, who are the member, 7 INGO, 2 UN agency (UNHCR & IoM), BRAC, AMAN & NGO Forum. These three organization BRAC, AMAN and NGO Forum has no track record of telling issues in favors of locals.

Long time ago in a meeting with UN and ISCG (Inter Sectoral Coordination Group) official, I raised the issue of local NGO leader participation in any dignitary visit in Coxsbazar so that we will be able to raise local issues. ISCG (at present it is RCT – Rohingya / Response Coordination Team) officials avoided to respond my concern very diplomatically.

For last three/four days I am writing this issue in WhatsApp group where local, national and international NGOs discuss, but ironically, no one of the NGO leader hardly supported my views. I am so astonished that our local / Coxsbazarian NGO leaders giving importance to UN and INGO agencies for relation to get fund, at the cost of keeping apart our local interest.

It is not only this time, even in on the eve of September 2025 UN Rohingya conference even in each year December in Bangkok during the time of Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week, COAST and CCNF organize event to raise and popularize Rohingya right issues.

I am sorry to say that UN agencies to keep Rohingya community as Refugees in Coxsbazar to keep their organizational aid business running, somehow which is promoting “Refugee Tourism” of their high officials. I feel we should promote Rohingya community as Freedom Fighter to reclaim their citizen rights and mother land. They hardly told about accountability of Myanamar Junta for Rohingya genocide, and repercussion of Arakan Army at present.

Around 60 International NGOs working in Rohingya camp they also hardly take position in this regard, one international NGO dare enough to say in a meeting where high district govt official present, said that they wanted to build stadium in the camp, these INGO is being funded by at least three UN agencies in Coxsbazar.

We must not bow our head or surrender our local interest, there are 80% world refugees living in tent and non-permanent shelter whole over the world, especially in developing countries. We have newly elected Member of Parliaments and Local Government Leader, they must by participated in the Response Management. Response Management should not be considered as a Island of Happiness of Bideshis / Foreigners.