Bangladesh to move extra Rohingya Muslims to distant island, despite outcry
15 February, 2021
Bangladesh is moving 3,000-4,000 more Rohingya Muslim refugees to a remote Bay of Bengal island more than another two days, several officials said on Sunday, despite concerns about the chance of storms and floods lashing the website.
Dhaka has relocated around 7,000 to Bhasan Char island since early December from border camps in neighbouring Buddhist-bulk Myanmar, where greater than a million refugees are in ramshackle huts perched on razed hillsides.
The Rohingya refugees will be moved to Bhasan Char by ships on Mon and Tuesday, Navy Commodore Rashed Sattar said from the island.
Bangladesh says the relocation is voluntary, however, many of an initial group to be moved spoke to be coerced.
The federal government has dismissed safety concerns over the island, citing the building of flood defences along with housing for 100,000 people, hospitals and cyclone centres.
In addition, it says overcrowding in refugee camps fuels criminal offense.
After they arrive on Bhasan Char, the Rohingya, a minority group who fled violence, aren't allowed to keep the island, which is several hours' voyage from the southern slot of Chittagong.
Bangladesh features drawn criticism for a good reluctance to talk to with the US refugee agency and other aid bodies above the transfers.
The UN Superior Commissioner for Refugees says the agency is not allowed to evaluate the safety and sustainability of lifestyle on the island.
"The process of moving the Rohingya will continue ... they go there happily for better lifestyle," Mohammad Shamsud Douza, the deputy Bangladesh federal government official responsible for refugees, said by mobile from Cox's Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh.
"Our main concern is repatriating them with their homeland in a dignified and sustainable approach," he said.
Bangladesh features called on Myanmar to move forward the stalled process of voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees, as international pressure mounts on the military leaders following a coup, which reduces the refugees' expectations of returning home.
"I don't see any future for us," said 42-year-classic refugee, who thought we would move the island. "The tiny hope we'd of going again to your homeland was broken following the coup."
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