Bhasan Char
1,287 more Rohingyas reach Bhasan Char
Another batch of 1,287 Rohingya refugees reached Bhasan Char in the tenth phase on Monday.
Of them 65 came as visitors from Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps and 81 are residents of Bhasan Char returning after visiting their relatives, according to the media wing of Chattogram Navy.
The Rohingya men, women and children left Patenga for Bhasan Char by two naval ships in the morning and reached Bhasan Char at 1:30 pm, said Moazzem Hossain, additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner (deputy secretary) in Bhasan Char.
READ: 718 more Rohingyas leave for Bhasan Char
The Rohingyas were taken to their respective clusters on arrival, he said.
With this, the total number of Rohingya population at the Bhasan Char reached 20,949, he said
Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them have come to this country since August 25, 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive targeting the Muslim ethnic minorities.
READ: Bangladesh, Myanmar agree to accelerate citizenship verification of 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.
Turkey to continue efforts to repatriate Rohingya: Enamur
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md. Enamur Rahman said Turkey is working for the repatriation of Rohingyas and it will talk to different countries so that they can be returned to Myanmar with dignity.
The minister said this to reporters after a meeting with Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu at a hotel in the city on Saturday.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has reaffirmed his country’s continued support to Rohingyas and their host community in Bangladesh, the minister added.
The Turkish Minister praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for providing shelter and humanitarian assistance to about 1.1 million Rohingya in the country. He expressed hope for any kind of cooperation from his government and said that the ongoing cooperation would continue.
The Turkish Minister expressed willingness to share experience about disaster management between the two countries and we agreed, the state minister said.
As a result, “we will be able to cooperate with each other in dealing with disasters in the future”, he added.
He also appealed to the Afad organization, Turkey's disaster and emergency management authority which has a branch in Cox's Bazar, to continue their cooperation in Bhasan Char and gave the responsibility to the head of Afad.
State minister Enamur also said that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the two countries in this regard.
Secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Md. Mohsin and Hasan Sarwar, head (joint secretary) of the refugee cell of the relief ministry were present at the meeting.
379 more Rohingyas reach Bhasan Char
A batch of 379 more Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char in the seventh phase under the supervision of Bangladesh Navy on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier on the day, 132 Rohingya men, 98 women and 149 children left Chittagong Port for Bhasan Char on a naval ship. These refugees are part of some 1,500 Rohingyas slated to be relocated to the island in this phase.
Md Shahidul Islam, superintendent of police (SP) in Noakhali, said: "The Rohingya people arrived in Bhasan Char at 3pm by naval ship Penguin. This is the first phase of Rohingya relocation in Bhasan Char since the United Nations has joined the effort."
According to Navy sources in Chattogram, 257 Rohingyas in the first group and 122 Rohingyas in the second group were brought from Ukhia in seven buses to the Navy's transit camp at Patenga Wednesday, where initial health check-ups were carried out and food was provided to them.
Read: Rohingya relocation: 1,500 more going to Bhasan Char in 7th phase
About 1,500-2,000 Rohingya men, women and children willing to go to Bhasan Char in the seventh phase gathered at the temporary transit point – Ukhiya Degree College – since Tuesday noon.
Jamalida Begum, leader of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights in Ukhia, said the residents of the camp in Ukhia feel unsafe after the killing of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah and the gun attack on a madrasa in Rohingya camp. "So, most of the Rohingyas are willing to move to Bashan Char."
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhasan Char Police, said about 1,500 Rohingya refugees are expected to reach Bhasan Char in the seventh phase. "All the preparations have been completed to receive them."
Read:UN arrival at Bhasan Char to ease better int’l coordination for repatriation: Japan
In six phases, over 18,500 Rohingyas have been shifted to Bhasan Char so far.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them have come to this country since August 25, 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive targeting the Muslim ethnic minorities.
Rohingya relocation: 379 refugees leave for Bhasan Char
As many as 379 Rohingya refugees left Chattogram port for Bhasan Char on a naval ship Thursday morning. These refugees are part of some 1,500 Rohingyas slated to be relocated to the island in the seventh phase.
Shamsuddauja, additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner in Cox's Bazar, said naval ship Penguin carrying the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals left the port at 10am after an overnight stay at a military transit camp at Patenga in Chattogram.
Read: Rohingya relocation: 1,500 more going to Bhasan Char in 7th phase
According to Navy sources in Chattogram, 257 Rohingyas in the first group and 122 Rohingyas in the second group were brought from Ukhia in seven buses to the Navy's transit camp at Patenga Wednesday, where initial health check-ups were carried out and food was provided to them.
Rohingya relocation: 1,500 more going to Bhasan Char in 7th phase
Some 1,500 more Rohingyas are being relocated to the Bhasan Char Island in the seventh phase.
On the first day of the seventh phase, around 379 Rohingyas were taken to Chattogram from the camps in Cox’s Bazar in seven buses on Wednesday.
From there, the Rohingyas are scheduled to be sent to Bhasanchar on Thursday in a special navy ship.
Shamsuddauja, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner in Cox's Bazar, said the Rohingyas willing to go to Bhasan Char were brought to the temporary transit point at Ukhiya Degree College ground and provided with necessary items, including food, water and medicine.
Read: Bhasan Char: an excellent example for a safe, sustainable, and resilient place for Rohingya relocation
UN arrival at Bhasan Char to ease better int’l coordination for repatriation: Japan
Seeking sustained international pressure on Myanmar to achieve the Rohingya repatriation goal, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh has said the signing of an MoU between Bangladesh and the UNHCR to begin UN engagement in Bhasan Char will pave the way for even better cooperation and coordination on the Rohingya repatriation process.
“It’s very important that the international community puts pressure on Myanmar as part of the repatriation work. How? I think it depends on the individual country,” he told diplomatic correspondents at “DCAB Talk” on Thursday emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the region.
Read: Japan to provide more vaccine doses through COVAX in Nov
Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) organized its flagship programme at Jatiya Press Club. DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event.
Responding to a question on how the international community can put pressure on Myanmar, Ambassador Naoki said there has been pressure coming through UN resolutions which is of course one way while the other possibility is direct contact or direct representation.
“I would say Japan has been doing this by making the use of the channels that Japan has established. So, we directly communicated with the Myanmar military side,” he said.
The Japanese envoy said Japan might not have played a very prominent role but he thinks Japan has been playing a very important role in its own way. “Japan has been doing what Japan can do. We’ll continue to do that.”
Rohingyas overjoyed at UN arrival in Bhasan Char
The Rohingyas in Bhasan Char have welcomed the decision of the United Nations (UN) to engage there in providing humanitarian support.
On Sunday, they brought out a procession expressing their joy over the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Bangladesh government and the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.
They were seen joining the joyous procession peacefully holding placards that read "Welcome UN", "Welcome UNHCR", "Thank You UN," "We Are Happy at Bhasan Char 2021."
Head Rohingya leaders led the procession from 2:30pm to 3pm joined by over a thousand Rohingyas, said a source at Bhasan Char.
The procession that began from Shelter 9 ended at Rohingya Bazar, going through Hospital Road.
Bangladesh and the UN signed the formal document Saturday, ending a long wait for a much-sought UN engagement at Bhasan Char on the humanitarian front to support the Rohingyas there.
Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohsin and Bangladesh Representative of UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, Johannes van der Klaauw, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Secretariat.
Read: Crucial MoU on UN's operational engagement in Bhasan Char signed
Crucial MoU on UN's operational engagement in Bhasan Char signed
Bangladesh and the United Nations (UN) signed a formal document Saturday, ending a long wait for a much-sought UN engagement at Bhasan Char on the humanitarian front to support the Rohingyas there.
Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohsin and Bangladesh Representative of UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, Johannes van der Klaauw signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the secretariat.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr M Enamur Rahman witnessed the signing ceremony as the chief guest. Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Capt AB Tajul Islam joined as special guest.
He said around 80,000 Rohingyas will be relocated to Bhasan Char from Cox’s Bazar camps within the next three months.
READ: MoU on UN's operational engagement in Bhasan Char Saturday
Enamur said they have finally taken a right decision and it will be very easier for humanitarian agencies to provide services following today's MoU signing.
The signing of the MoU demonstrates the UN's support to the government's massive investment there to ensure better living for the Rohingyas, officials said.
The MoU – signed by UNHCR on behalf of UN agencies working on the Rohingya response in Bangladesh – establishes a common protection and policy framework for the Rohingya humanitarian response on the island.
The MoU is a further expression of the government and people of Bangladesh’s generosity and support towards the Rohingya population until they can return safely and sustainably to Myanmar.
It is also a reconfirmation of the UN’s commitment to continue supporting Bangladesh in leading the humanitarian programme for almost 1.1 million Rohingya refugees in the country, said the UNHCR.
The agreement relating to Bhasan Char allows close cooperation between the government and the UN on services and activities to the benefit of the increasing numbers of Rohingya refugees living on the island, according to the UN refugee agency.
MoU on UN's operational engagement in Bhasan Char Saturday
Bangladesh and the United Nations (UN) will sign a formal document Saturday, ending a long wait for a much-sought UN engagement at Bhasan Char on the humanitarian front to support the Rohingyas there.
Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohsin and UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, will sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The signing ceremony will be held at the secretariat at 12pm.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr M Enamur Rahman will witness the signing ceremony.
The signing of the MoU demonstrates the UN's support to the government's massive investment there to ensure better living for the Rohingyas, officials said.
The numerous challenges associated with the temporary hosting of persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar have compelled the Bangladesh government to plan the relocation of 1 lakh Rohingyas to Bhashan Char, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Also read: Relocation of Rohingyas to Bhashan Char not forceful: Dhaka
Nearly 20,000 Rohingyas moved to Bhasan Char since December last year in several groups.
Around 1,642 Rohingyas were relocated to Bhashan Char on December 4 last year while the second batch, comprising 1,804 Rohingyas, had been transferred from Cox's Bazar to the island on December 29 last year.
Recognising Bangladesh's massive investment in Bhasan Char, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo said there has been, rather, a lot of negative coverage about the island and it is important that they have somehow managed to move away from that.
She said they want to be partners in trying to create something so that everybody can live and the conversation that they are having now is important.
Regarding the proposed MoU to engage in Bhasan Char, Mia said there are protections and humanitarian imperatives and they are looking to support the massive efforts of the government in Bhasan Char.
Bhasan Char, a temporary shelter for Rohingyas until repatriation, remained unhurt with no casualty to personnel and livestock during recent cyclones, officials said.
During his recent visit, former United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir highly appreciated Bangladesh's efforts for Rohingyas in Bhashan Char, saying it will be another example to the world on how to deal with the refugee issues. "I applaud the work done there – the quality of buildings and all the precautions."
Also read: UN for Rohingyas' free, informed decision on Bhashan Char relocation
Bozkir hoped that this would work well for the Rohingya people, giving them a better condition in Bhashan Char.
The government re-emphasised that Bhashan Char is completely safe and suitable for human habitation.
The 30-year-old island has all the amenities, including healthcare, drinking water, options for economic activities, and cyclone shelters, it said.
The island offers enough space for the free movement of the Rohingyas.
Officials at the MoFA said it should be remembered that Rohingyas are Myanmar nationals and Bhasan Char and Cox's Bazar camps are temporary arrangements. "Bangladesh has been hosting them temporarily purely out of humanitarian gesture."
"Rohingyas want to return to their homeland, Myanmar, and all need to work constructively to that end," a MoFA official said.