Bangladesh wants to begin relocation of Rohingyas to Bhashan Char soon as the government finds the weather and overall environment suitable for such relocation, officials said.
The relocation is likely to begin this month as the weather is improving, a senior official told UNB.
However, no date is fixed yet to begin relocation of Rohingyas to Bhashan Char, he said.
The government says Bhashan Char is built in such a beautiful way with many facilities in place and Rohingyas will never try to return once they go there.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar camps in a very congested way. Some 100,000 Rohingyas will be shifted to Bhashan Char.
“The Rohingya women have opened parlour in Bhashan Char who are staying there. It’s a very beautiful place. Once someone goes there, he or she doesn’t want to return,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday.
ALSO READ THIS: MOMEN: ROHINGYA REPATRIATION TALKS AFTER FULL FORMATION OF MYANMAR GOVT
More than 300 Rohingyas are now living in Bhashan Char.
He said the government wants to reduce the risk of deaths due to landslides in Rohingya camps during the rainy season easing the burden on congested Cox’s Bazar camps.
Momen said if any Rohingya dies due to landslides, all will create noise saying Bangladesh killed Rohingyas. “That’s why Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the decision to relocate.”
The foreign minister said Rohingyas are getting involved in drug peddling and trafficking in persons in Cox’s Bazar camps.
But if they go to Bhashan Char, Rohingyas will get an opportunity to get involved in economic activities, he said.
In Rajshahi, the foreign minister said international agencies and some NGOs are encouraging Rohingyas not to go to Bhashan Char.
“We believe Rohingyas will go to Bhashan Char,” he said adding that they are taking Rohingyas there first to see the facilities.
