The government is likely to backtrack from its second attempt to relocate the stranded Rohingyas to Bhasan Char island in the face of strong opposition from the development partners.
Recently the government announced its plan to relocate a portion of the Rohingya refugees to the island in April.
But sources concerned opined that the move cannot be materialised now. The international community, including the United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies, have set some conditions for the planned relocation, which cannot be fulfilled by next month.
Previously the government made an attempt to relocate the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char in last November. It could not be implemented for the same reason.
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen said, "We want to relocate the Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char for their own wellbeing. Cox's Bazar camps have become too congested for them."
"In Bhasan Char we have built very good infrastructures with necessary facilities to accommodate them. But the donors and humanitarian agencies have set some conditions."
"We also want voluntary relocation. So it seems that the process may take some time," he said when asked whether the relocation can be started in April.
Recently, State Minister for Disaster and Relief Management Md Enamur Rahman said the process to relocate more than 100,000 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char from the cramped camps in Cox's Bazar will kick off by mid-April.
As per the government's plan, some 103,200 Rohingyas, out of more than a million - currently sheltered in the camps of Cox's Bazar, will be moved to Bhashan Char under a project with an estimated cost of over Tk 23.12 billion.
Bhashan Char, also known as Thengar Char, is located in the country's south-eastern part. The island is 21 nautical miles from Noakhali, 11 nautical miles from Jahajir Char, 4.2 nautical miles from Sandwip, 28 nautical miles from Patenga, and 13.2 nautical miles from Hatia.
Talking to the FE, Chairman of the Refugee Rehabilitation and Repatriation Commission (RRRC) Md Abdul Kalam said they have started a survey among the Rohingyas to assess whether they want to go there voluntarily.
"We are taking all preparations. But we are yet to get any instruction from the government on when the relocation would start," he added.
The UN has recently made it clear that any relocation of the Rohingya people to Bhasan Char must take place on a voluntary basis.
It also opined that the refugees should have relevant, accurate and timely information on the project from the government, so that they can make chosen and informed decisions.
"The views and concerns of the refugees must be heard and addressed as part of the consultative process," the UN said in a statement amid the government's move to relocate the Rohingya people to the island.
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