CHATTOGRAM, Feb 15, 2021 (BSS) – A total of 2,010 more Rohingyas reached
Bhasan Char from city’s Patenga Boat Club in the fifth phase as part of their
relocation under the supervision of Bangladesh Navy (BN) today after 14 days
later of the fourth batch.
Earlier, they came to Patenga from Ukhiya Balukhali camp of Cox’s Bazar and
started their journey to Bhasan Char with the help of four naval ships around
9.40 am after an overnight stay at a temporary transit camp of Patenga’s BAF
Shaheen College, the BN sources said.
The first group of 1,642 Rohingyas reached at Bhasan Char on December 4,
the second batch of 1,804 Rohingyas on December 29 in 2020 and the third
batch of 1,778 Rohingyas on Janyary 29 in 2021 and fourth batch of 1,464
Rohingya people reached at Bhasan Char on January 30 in 2021 under the
supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, the sources added.
Milon Mahmud, additional deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan
Police (CMP), told BSS that the fifth phase of 2,010 Rohingyas reached at
Bhasan Char around 1 pm today.
Rear Admiral Abul Kalam Azad, fleet commander of Bangladesh Navy, told
journalists that another 1,600 Rohingya refugees will leave for Bhasan Char
tomorrow (February 16). The bus has already taken them from Cox’s Bazar to
Chattogram, he added.
“Earlier, about 11,000 Rohingya refugees were relocated to Bhasan Char in
four phases. Before boarding the ship, the Rohingyas were given tokens and
keys of the allotted shelter homes after various data entries,” Abul Kalam
Azad said.
Mohammad Samsuddauja, additional commissioner of the government’s Refugee
Relief and Repatriation Office, said food items have been stored in Bhasan
Char for three months.
Initially, cooked food will be provided to Rohingyas by different Non
Government Organisation (NGO)’s as representatives of 22 NGOs have started
their respective works at Bhasan Char in this regard, he added.
In addition to modern accommodation for the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char,
educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds have already
been set up, he continued.
Jasmine Prema, chairperson of the Social Welfare and Development
Organisation, said the government and 22 development agencies have been
working to send only interested Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char.
Mohammad Samsuddauja said buffaloes, sheep, ducks and pigeons are being
reared there for gearing up economic activities.
“Different types of vegetables are being planted. Paddy is also being
cultivated experimentally there,” he added.
He went on saying that the government has provided infrastructure of 120
cluster villages on the 13,000-acres of char land at a cost of Taka 3,095
crore with its own fund to accommodate more than one lakh Rohynga people.