In the third phase of relocation, another group of Rohingyas voluntarily began their journey from Cox's Bazar refugee camps to Bhasan Char on Thursday. However, the number of Rohingyas making the journey has not been officially confirmed.
17 buses carrying the Rohingyas left Ukhia Degree College ground for Chattogram at around 12 pm. Several trucks are carrying luggage along with an empty bus as an alternative for a safe journey.
Confirming the matter, Rapid Action Battalion’s (RAB) Director of Law and Media Branch Lt Col Ashiq Billah said they were providing security to the Rohingyas in the journey.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner, Mamunur Rashid said, “It is difficult to say how many Rohingyas are taking the journey. It can be said only after the journey completes. Only those who are willing to go are being sent.”
However, an official said on condition of anonymity that at least 1,500 Rohingyas agreed to go to Bhasan Char on the third leg voluntarily.
In the first two phases, 3,446 Rohingyas were relocated to the river island.
Bangladesh, one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingyas. The majority of them came here since August 2017 fleeing persecution in their homeland, Rakhine state of Myanmar.
Bangladesh has been urging the global community to take effective steps to put pressure on Myanmar to create a congenial atmosphere for repatriation but there has been little progress.
The presence of the huge number of Rohingyas in the coastal district has put them on a collision course with the locals. Many Rohingyas have gotten involved in various criminal activities.
Foreign Minister AK Momen has said the Rohingya population will pose a serious security threat to the entire region if they are not sent back to their homeland as soon as possible.
Currently, the Rohingyas stay in makeshift cramped camps in Cox's Bazar.
The government spent millions of dollars to develop the river island of Bhasan Char and plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingyas there in phases in the face of growing concerns over the extreme congestion in Cox's Bazar camps and to avert any risk of death due to landslides and other unwarranted incidents.
Who are the Rohingyas?
Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
Members of the mainly-Muslim majority ethnic minority are denied citizenship by Myanmar and many are forced to live in squalid camps in apartheid-like condition.
State-sponsored discrimination against the Rohingyas stretches back decades.
Bhasan Char
Located 34 kilometres from the mainland, the island surfaced 20 years ago and was never inhabited.
Contractors say its infrastructure is like a modern township, with multi-family concrete homes, schools, playgrounds and roads. It also has solar-power facilities, a water supply system and cyclone shelters.
The island has all modern amenities and recently a police station was set up there.
