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BSS-01
AMBASSADOR-BHASHANCHAR-VISIT
10 envoys visit Bhashanchar, freely interact with Rohingyas
DHAKA, April 4, 2021 (BSS) – Ten diplomats stationed here have freely
interacted with relocated Rohingyas while visiting Bhashanchar to observe
government facilities for the persecuted Myanmar nationals.
The foreign ministry organized the daylong trip on Saturday for the high
commissioners or ambassadors of Turkey, EU, USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan,
Australia, Canada and the Netherlands.
The visit was a part of the Government’s engagement with the international
community including the United Nations on the relocation of Rohingyas from
Cox’s Bazar to Bhashanchar, a press release said here.
The objective of the visit was to provide the envoys with an opportunity
to witness the massive development and humanitarian projects undertaken by
the Government of Bangladesh in Bhashanchar.
During the tour, the group had the chance to visit different
infrastructures including embankments, buildings, shelters, other facilities
and amenities available on the island.
The team visited several capacity-building projects such as sewing,
handicrafts making etc, the skills that the Rohingyas would be able to
utilize in their return to Myanmar.
The ambassadors freely interacted with the Rohingya representatives and
shared their thoughts and hopes.
During the interactions, the Rohingyas profusely thanked Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh for the exemplary humanitarian
support that have been extended to the Rohingyas since the mass exodus.
At the same time, they expressed their willingness to return to their
homeland in Myanmar.
“I want my children to grow with their own national identity in their own
country,” a Rohingya representative stated.
The Rohingyas conveyed their high satisfaction over the existing
facilities in Bhashanchar, which they considered safe, secured, crime-free
compared to the congested camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Some Rohingyas underscored the need for expanding learning facilities for
children and providing them with opportunities for farming and fishing which
would help keep them active.
The group of ambassadors spent some time with the Rohingya children in an
informal learning center.
This was the first-ever visit to Bhashanchar by foreign Heads of Missions.
The trip was preceded by a UN team’s visit from 17-20 March 2021 while
earlier a team, led by the Assistant Secretary General of the OIC went to
Bhashan Char.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Disaster Management and Relief
secretary Md. Mohsin, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam, and other senior
officials of the government accompanied the team.
Rohingya relocation to Bhashanchar, which started from 4 December 2020, is
in alignment with the GOB’s overall efforts towards repatriation.
So far 18,334 Rohingyas have been relocated to Bhashanchar while the
government has a plan to relocate, in phases, 100,000 Rohingyas to the island
at Bay of Bengal.
BSS/TA/GMR/1157 hrs