Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that the repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their country is in top priority list of the governement.
“We had held detailed discussions on how to repatriate them. We have accelerated our diplomatic efforts to solve the existing problems,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while facing journalists at his secretariat office after a meeting on coordination, management and law and order situation on forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens on Wednesday.
The meeting was also attended by the foreign minister, the state minister for women and children affairs and high officials of Bangladesh Army, Police, RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) and members of different intelligence units.
Home Minister said, “Some 11 lakh forcibly displaced Rohingyas took shelter in 35 camps in Cox's Bazar, Teknaf and Ukhiya over the years of 1978, 1979, 1991, 1992 and from 2017 to till today because of internal riots in Myanmar.”
The government took steps to relocate 1 lakh Rohingyas to Bhasan Char island as a relocation scheme, and so far, 3,000 Rohingyas of 406 families have been resettled there, he said.
Installation of a fire service station and a police station in the island is in progress, he added.
The home minister, however, urged enthusiastic people not to go to Bashan Char.
Two units of Bangladesh Army and Armed Police Battalion (APBN) are working in Rohingya camp to ensure the safety of the camps along with Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), RAB and Bangladesh Ansar, said Asaduzzaman.
“Special measures have been taken to control illegal drugs and other crimes. Police will play a major role in ensuring internal security of the camps. Army will petrol outside the camps”, he said.
“Under the supervision of the home ministry, the Army is installing 142 KM barbed wire fence along with the camps – so far 111 KM has been finished. The rest will be installed by June this year. Moreover, a walkaway would be installed along the fence and CCTV cameras will also be installed to help prevent reckless movement,” he added.
Further emphasizing on security in the camps the minister said, “Drug control emerges as a big challenge as many are getting involved in Yaba trade. Other drug-related crimes are happening in camps including murders. To prevent such things, the presence of army and police has been increased in the camps,” said the minister.
There are some 180 Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), comprising local and international, are working in Rohingya camps in Cox's bazar said Asaduzzaman, adding that some 22 NGOs have started their work in Bashan Char also.
134 healthcare centres and 5,494 educational institutions have been installed in the camps where the Rohingyas are receiving treatment and taught Myanmar language and English, he said.
To make room for shelters, local fauna received a severe blow in the area. Therefore, initiatives have been taken to plant trees and grass in the affected areas, the minister said.
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