Rohingya refugees
718 more Rohingyas leave for Bhasan Char
As many as 718 Rohingya refugees left Ukhia camps in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday in the 10th phase of relocation on Bhasan Char island in Noakhali.
The Rohingya men, women and children left for Chattogram on 13 buses from the Ukhia Degree College field at 1 am.
Shamsuddauja, additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner in Cox's Bazar said, these Rohingya refugees are being relocated on the 10th phase and process is on to send more who agreed to go to Bhasan Char.
The 718 Rohingyas will reach Bhasan Char by Monday noon, he said.
Also read: Rohingya woman dies while fleeing Bhasan Char
Jahirul Islam,Camp-Incharge in Bhasan Char said exact number of refugees to be located on the tenth phase is yet to be known.
“We’ve made preparations to send them to their respective centres after reaching here,” he said.
In nine phases, over 20,000 Rohingyas have been shifted to Bhasan Char from December 2020.
Another batch of 306 Rohingya refugees were sent to Bhasan Char in May, 2020 after rescuing them from the sea while illegally migrating to Malaysia, according to officials.
Also read: 552 more Rohingyas reach Bhasan Char: Navy
Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them came since August 25, 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive targeting the Muslim ethnic minorities.
Bangladesh, Myanmar agree to accelerate citizenship verification of Rohingya refugees
Bangladesh and Myanmar at a technical level discussion on Thursday expressed readiness to continue working closely to address the reasons causing delay in the verification of the past residency of the displaced people in Rakhine.The first ever meeting of the newly formed technical level ad-hoc task force for verification of the displaced persons from Rakhine was held on Thursday virtually between Bangladesh and Myanmar.Shah Rizwan Hayat, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of Bangladesh and Ye Tun Oo, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Immigration and Population of Myanmar led their respective sides.RRRC Shah Rizwan Hayat highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s humanitarian gesture to give temporary shelters to the huge number of displaced people from Rakhine despite numerous constraints and challenges of Bangladesh.
Read: Hasina seeks Japan’s support for early solution to Rohingya crisis He expressed dismay over the slow pace of verification of past residency by Myanmar and offered all cooperation under the three bilateral instruments, to expeditiously complete the verification process.He mentioned that solving difficulties and gaps in pending verification will pave the way for the early commencement of the sustainable repatriation of the displaced people of Rakhine which also demands creation of conducive environment in Rakhine and confidence building among them.
Read: Global community's strong commitment sought to resolve Rohingya crisis
Detailing the technical difficulties and information gaps, the Myanmar delegation assured their cooperation to complete pending verification.They expressed optimism that the Task Force would be instrumental to complete the verification process.
Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp fire burns health compound, houses
A fire broke out at the extended Rohingya camp at Kutupalong in Ukhiya upazila, Cox's Bazar on Sunday, burning at least 20 houses and a health compound, officials said.
However, no injuries were reported from the fire.
The fire that burned the houses and a health compound, operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), started at around 7pm at Camp-20 Extension, said Md Shamsu-Ddouza Nayan, additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner (deputy secretary).
The cause of the fire at Block D of the camp was not immediately known, said Naimul Haque, commander of Armed Police Battalion (APBn-14). "However, no casualties have been reported in the fire so far."
At first, Ukhiya fire service rushed to the camp, and later two units of firefighters from Cox's Bazar fire service joined them, Md Abdullah, deputy assistant director of Cox's Bazar fire service, said.
A fire started inside the IOM's Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Treatment Centre (SARI ITC) compound today in Cox's Bazar, Tarek Mahmud, national communication officer at IOM Cox's Bazar, said.
Also read: Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp fire guts over 400 houses
The IOM hospital staff and patients were evacuated to a safer area, while the organisation's staff and Rohingya volunteers, assigned to the disaster management unit, immediately started to contain the fire.
"By around 7:35pm, the fire brigade arrived on the spot and could tame the flames by 8:10pm. One of the three main areas of the compound sustained fire damage. The reason for the fire is unknown," Tarek said.
Soon thereafter, IOM's Deputy Chief of Mission arrived from Cox's at the SARI ITC compound with technical staff to assess the situation and liaise with the authorities.
The fire damaged one of the three areas in the compound. However, no areas around the compound were damaged.
Early tomorrow, another IOM team will conduct a more thorough damage assessment, said Tarek.
Also read: Rohingya camp fire: Death toll climbs to 11
Bangladesh can't, shouldn't bear Rohingya responsibility alone: UN expert
UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar Tom Andrews on Sunday said they all, as part of the international community, have a responsibility to support the Rohingya, noting that Bangladesh "cannot and should not" bear this responsibility alone.
“A stronger commitment of resources is required for the Rohingya refugees and host communities. And the government of Bangladesh needs and deserves a stronger international partnership," he said while speaking at the end of his first official visit to Bangladesh.
The cause of this crisis, and the resolution of this crisis is not in Bangladesh, but in Myanmar, stated the UN expert.
Andrews said he looks forward to working with Bangladesh as a friend, to returning here to continue his reporting, and also to continue my conversations and engagement with the remarkable people here.
Also read: Solution to Rohingya crisis to help realize free Indo-Pacific: Japan
"Most of all, I look forward to returning to a Myanmar where justice, human rights and human decency finally prevail, and I can meet with the Rohingya community not as refugees but as citizens in their own country, Myanmar.”
14 held with drugs worth Tk 12cr in Chattogram
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has claimed to have arrested 14 suspected drug smugglers, 12 of them Rohingya refugees, in the port city of Chattogram and seized Yaba pills worth
Tk 12 crore from their possession.
Read: Narcotics department is to crack down on 3,500 listed drug dealers in Dhaka
The arrestees have been identified as Abul Kalam (27), Abul Foyez (50) and 12 Rohingya refugees -- Manir Hossain, 45, Alam, 41, Rafique, 29, Yeahia, 28, Dil Molammad, 23, Majibur Rahman, 19, Abdul Majid, 28, Tarek, 19, Hossain, 42, Bashir Ahmed, 22, Manjur Alam, 19 and Ekram Ullah of Kutupalong Rohingya camp.
Acting on a tip-off, members of the elite force intercepted a boat off the coast ofChattogram and seized the consignment of 3.96 lakh Yaba pills worth Tk 12 crore on Wednesday, said Lieutenant Colonel MA Yusuf, commanding officer of Rab-7.
Read: 5 drug peddlers held in Dhaka
The 14 men were heading towards Patenga from Cox’s Bazar on the boat when they were arrested, he said, adding that all the smugglers have been handed over to the local police.
ACC goes slow on NID scam case raising questions over its anti-graft drive
Nearly three months ago the country’s anti-graft body sued 17 people, including police officers, election officials and public representatives, on charge of helping Rohingya refugees get the National Identity Cards and passports.
There has been no forward movement in the case since then raising doubts over sincerity of the Anti-Corruption Commission in pursuing a crime as serious as this. And a sudden transfer of the investigation officer who filed the case has raised even more questions.
ACC deputy assistant director Sharif Uddin, who investigated the scam since it broke out in 2019 was transferred on June 16 this year, a day after he filed the case with its Integrated District Office 2, Chattogram.
READ: ACC approves chargesheet against ex-RHD chief engineer
ACC officials contacted by UNB correspondent parried questions why the investigation officer was hurriedly taken off the assignment and how the case has progressed since then. Their standard response has been that they are either busy or “contact me later.”
The ACC has been reluctant in sharing any update of the stalled case with regard to the serious crime.
UNB contacted ACC director at Chattogram Mahmud Hasan on August 19, but he declined to share anything about this issue over phone.
Read Rohingya issue not to disappear from agenda despite new global challenges: EU
He said "I’m not in office today. Call me next Sunday (August 22) during office time. I can’t talk over phone on this issue. I will talk later in detail after scrutinising the papers."
Nine Rohingya refugees detained in Kurigram
A mobile court in Kurigram detained nine Rohingya refugees on Wednesday night for flouting the Covid-19 lockdown norms.
The refugees have been identified as Faia Salam, 27, Ismail Hossain, 18, Sabika Khatun, 50, Nasim, 15, Riaz, 10, Asmira Khatun, 18, Tasminara Khatun, 7, Rumajan Khatun, 5, and Ismail Hossain, 3.
Read: Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
All of them are the residents of different Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, police said.
Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bhurungamari Police Station, said during regular patrolling, the mobile court of the local administration intercepted a battery-run three-wheeler carrying 12 people amid the ongoing countrywide lockdown.
While two occupants of the vehicle managed to escape in the dark, the nine others were detained. The remaining person, a Bangladeshi national, was the driver of the vehicle. He was let off with a warning.
Read: Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary The nine were subsequently handed over to the police after they revealed their identities and claimed that they had plans to sneak into neighbouring India.
"We have initiated the process to send them back to their respective Rohingya camps," the OC said.
Rohingya Crisis: US to provide $155 mn in new humanitarian assistance
The United States has announced to provide nearly $155 million in new humanitarian assistance, much of which will go towards the 2021 Bangladesh Joint Response Plan.
With this new funding, our total humanitarian assistance for this response reaches more than $1.3 billion since 2017, including more than $1.1 billion for programmes inside Bangladesh.
”This new funding allows our partners to continue providing life-saving assistance to the nearly 900,000 Rohingya refugees who have taken refuge in Bangladesh—including the more than 740,000 Rohingya who, in 2017, were forced to flee ethnic cleansing and other horrific atrocities and abuses in Burma’s Rakhine State,” said Nancy Izzo Jackson, Senior Bureau Official at Population, Refugees and Migration wing of the US State Department.
This funding also provides support for more than 472,000 Bangladeshi host community members impacted by this displacement, she said.
The US joined the government of Bangladesh, the UN, and IOM in calling for durable solutions for the Rohingya people.
US humanitarian assistance for this crisis supports all sectors of the response, including education, emergency telecommunications, food security, health, nutrition, protection, shelter and relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Also read: UNHCR supporting Cox’s Bazar locals with community projects, livelihood initiatives
“We applaud humanitarian actors for a well-coordinated humanitarian response, including the prevention and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, environmental programmes, and the planned Myanmar Curriculum Pilot program,” Jackson said.
The US commended the many countries that have supported this response, but more assistance is required to meet the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
“We, therefore, urge other donors to come forward now with additional funds to sustain and increase support for the response,” said the US senior official.
The United States recognised the challenges and responsibilities that the response has placed on the government and people of Bangladesh and reiterated the continued commitment of the international community to addressing this crisis.
Also read: Don’t worry about Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char: Dhaka to UNHCR
In the aftermath of the February 1 coup and the brutal military crackdown in Myanmar, commitment to the people of Myanmar, including Rohingya refugees, is unwavering, said the US official.
“We will continue to support Bangladesh as well as other countries in the region that have made the humanitarian gesture to receive Rohingya refugees. We continue to call on all states to provide humanitarian assistance and ensure protection of vulnerable Rohingya,” she said.
The US official said they are pressing the military regime to stop the violence, release all those unjustly detained, and immediately restore Myanmar’s path to democracy, as we promote accountability for all those responsible for the coup and human rights abuses.
“We urge Bangladesh to continue protecting refugees, particularly at this time of increased risk to them, and acknowledge its assurance that it will not return them to a country where they could face persecution and violence,” she said.
On Bhasan Char, the United States welcomed the dialogue between the UN and the government of Bangladesh, and encouraged continued close consultations.
“We reiterate any relocations of refugees to Bhasan Char must be voluntary and refugees’ right to freedom of movement must be respected,” she said.
The US urged Bangladesh to grant the UN independent access to refugees on the island, as well as approval to conduct a comprehensive technical and protection assessment.
UNHCR's joint response plan to be launched Tuesday
The 2021 Joint Response Plan (JRP) of US$943 million for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis will be launched on Tuesday.
The US$943 million plan seeks to meet the needs of more than 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox’s Bazar District.
Most Rohingya refugees, some 740,000, fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has called for renewed international commitment, support and solidarity for Rohingyas ahead of next Tuesday’s donor conference.
It is not clear yet whether Bhasan Char is included under the JRP or not.
The 2021 JRP brings together the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh, and 134 UN agencies and NGO partners to target almost 1.4 million people this year, said UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic in Geneva recently.
Also read: UNHCR calls for strong global support for Rohingyas
Jointly co-hosted by the Government of Bangladesh, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the virtual 2021 JRP launch event will highlight the most immediate needs and ongoing humanitarian response.
The virtual 2021 JRP launch event is scheduled to run from 10:00am to 12:00 pm CEST Geneva (2:00pm – 4:00pm GMT+6 in Dhaka; 3:00pm – 5:00pm GMT+7 in Bangkok) on Tuesday (May 18). The event will be live streamed.
Last year, the United Nations appealed for more than US$1 billion to meet the needs of the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar District.
At the end of 2020, this appeal was just 59.4% funded.
"We stress that the international community must not only maintain support for refugees and their hosts, but also adapt to new and emerging needs and pursue the search for durable solutions," said the Spokesperson.
More than 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox’s Bazar District are brought under the plan.
Also read: Don’t worry about Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char: Dhaka to UNHCR
Most Rohingya refugees, some 740,000, fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017.
With the refugee crisis in its fourth year, Bangladesh needs robust and sustained international support to ensure the safety and wellbeing of stateless Rohingya refugees, saidMahecic.
This must not become a forgotten crisis. Both Rohingya refugees and Bangladesh, having generously hosted them for decades, must see the world standing with them, said the Spokesperson.
Adding to the complexity of this crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded vulnerabilities for refugees and host communities alike.
To date, the Government of Bangladesh, with the support of the humanitarian community, has effectively managed the COVID-19 response and the spread of the disease in the Rohingya camps and surrounding areas, though the trajectory of the virus remains unpredictable, UNHCR said.
A coordinated and inclusive response has saved lives. However, it is critical to ensure the continued delivery of all humanitarian assistance and protection services.
Also read: Redouble efforts to find solution to Rohingya crisis: UNHCR
The needs of Rohingya refugees reach beyond subsistence and physical safety. Refugees, like any other people, cannot be allowed to wait for years without access to education and options for a decent life and a meaningful future.
In order to mitigate the risks of people taking dangerous onward journeys, more must be done to ensure that refugees have hope in Bangladesh, and of a future back home in Myanmar.
Otherwise, they may increasingly risk such journeys by land or sea to find a solution elsewhere.
The search for durable solutions must remain focused on the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their homes in Myanmar, when conditions allow them to do so.
However, the ongoing crisis and political instability in Myanmar have added new layers of complexity to this challenge.
Rohingya response: Cox's Bazar NGOs for transparency, localisation
Local NGOs working in Cox's Bazar sought transparency and localisation of Rohingya response management ahead of the launching of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2021 on May 18.
The $943 million plan brings together the efforts of the government of Bangladesh, and 134 UN agencies and NGO partners, targeting 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox's Bazar, the UN said Friday.
However, opinions of the locals had little reflection in the document prepared by UN agencies, Cox's Bazar CSO NGO Forum said Sunday.
Read Bangladesh to demand 10pc of funds for Rohingyas in Bhasan Char: FM
In the last four years, the Inter Sectoral Coordination Group (ISCG) rarely came up with any statistics on how much fund had gone to host communities, how much had been used for local procurement and the number of local staff employed, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, co-chair of the CCNF, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said.
"During the preparation of JRP plan 2021, we provided written comments on behalf of local and national NGO representatives and also organised a virtual webinar on May 5, where lawmakers, local government and UN representatives had participated. But opinions of the locals have little reflection in the document."
"Moreover there is no outline about response management if no repatriation takes place in the next five to 10 years," Rezaul added.
Read EU scales up assistance for fire victims in Cox’s Bazar
He was addressing the conference "Joint Response Plan 2021, Rohingya Response Management and Strategy: Hardly Fit for the Purpose and Futuristic" organised by CCNF.
Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker, chief Executive Mukti Cox's Bazar, said: "The UN agencies prepared the Localization Task Force in 2019 to prepare a localisation road map. The report was finalised and submitted in November 2020, but yet to be published."
Abu Morshed Chowdhury, the co-chair of CCNF, said: "There are three lines of coordination management – ISCG, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner and Office of the Deputy Commissioner – now. But there should be a single line authority for coordination."
Read Congressman Deutch lauds Hasina's role over Rohingya issue