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BGP forcing Rohingyas to leave no-man's land

0.1m refugees to be relocated to Bhasan Char in two months, says secretary


May 20, 2018 00:00:00


Our Correspondent

COX'S BAZAR, May 19: Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar on Saturday started making announcement through loudspeakers, asking the Rohingya people, staying on no-man's land along the Tumbru-Konarpara point in Naikhongchhari upazila, to leave the area.

Sources said following such announcement, the Rohingya people, now staying on no-man's land, may enter Bangladesh territory anytime. Some Rohingyas staying on no-man's land at Konarpara said BGP members were forcing them to enter Bangladesh territory.

When contacted, Commanding Officer of 34 battalion of BGB in Cox's Bazar Lt Col Manzurul Hasan Khan confirmed the matter, saying that BGB men remain alert on the border.

Around 5,500 Rohingya people have been staying on the Ghundum-Konarpara no-man's land since September last year, BGB sources said.

UNB adds: 0.1 million Rohingyas, who have taken shelter in Bangladesh amid persecution in Myanmar, will be relocated to Bhasan Char in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali within two months.

Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Mohammad Shah Kamal came up with the information at a programme held at Balukhali camp in Ukhia upazila.

The secretary said all the preparations have been completed and the Rohingyas will be relocated there before August.

Earlier on November 14, 2017, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a Tk 23.12 billion project for giving temporary shelter to Rohingyas at Bhasan Char.

The ECNEC approved the project titled 'Ashrayan-3 for the construction of necessary infrastructures for housing 0.1 million displaced Myanmar citizens, and the construction of island infrastructures at Bhasan Char.

Meanwhile, biometric registration of 1,116,792 Rohingya refugees was completed till Saturday at six camps out of 12 in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazar district.

According to official sources, Passport and Immigration Department has registered the names of more than 1.11 million Rohingya refugees so far. Of them, 573,124 are male and 543,668 are female.

Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC) Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam confirmed this.

Registration of the Myanmar Rohingyas is going in full swing at Balukhali camp, Kutupalong-1, Kutupalong-2, Nayapara, Thainkhali-1 and Thainkhali-2 refugee camps.

Registration work started on September 11 last year. During registration, Social Welfare Department detected about 39,000 orphan children at 12 refugee camps.

However, the influx of Rohingya people from Myanmar into Bangladesh is still continuing. According to border sources, about 50 new Rohingyas enter Bangladesh through Anjumanpara and Shahporir Dweep border points every day.

More than 750,000 Rohingyas have fled violence in Rakhine state of Myanmar and taken shelter in Ukhia, Teknaf and Naikhongchhari upazilas since August 2017.

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