As the authorities are preparing to shift hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Cox's Bazar to Bhasan Char Island on December 4-5, international communities, including the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), again expressed their concern over the move on Wednesday.
They said the relocation should be done after the visit of the UN independent technical mission to Bhasan Char, and the Rohingyas should be provided with detailed information of the island.
The UN has not been involved in preparations for this movement or identification of the refugees, and it has limited information on the overall relocation exercise, said a statement of the organisation on Wednesday.
The Rohingya refugees must be able to make a free and informed decision about relocation to Bhasan Char based upon relevant, accurate and updated information, the UN noted.
The government has indicated that movements to the island will be voluntary, and the UN calls on the government to respect this important commitment.
The UN has also emphasised that the refugees who choose to move to Bhasan Char should have basic rights and services on the island, including effective freedom of movement to and from the mainland as well as access to education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.
This will help to lay the foundations for a productive and secure community in Bhasan Char, it observed.
"Since the government announced the Bhasan Char project, the UN has offered to engage in constructive consultations, aimed at better understanding the plan, considering with the government the most critical policy, process and operational issues."
The UN remains willing to continue this dialogue.
It has also consistently maintained that any relocation to Bhasan Char should be preceded by comprehensive technical protection assessments.
These independent UN assessments will review the safety, feasibility and sustainability of Bhasan Char as a place for the refugees to live, as well as the framework for protection and the assistance and services they will be able to access in the island.
The UN is prepared to proceed with the technical and protection assessments, if permitted by the government.
These assessments will be the concrete next step in determining whether the UN can engage operationally with the government's Bhasan Char project, noted the statement.
"If so, further work will then need to follow in order to develop plans and budgets, in consultation with the government and national and international NGO partners as well as with the international donors whose support makes the Rohingya humanitarian response possible in Bangladesh."
Meanwhile, the EU also said the relocation of Rohingyas to Bhasan Char should take place after the visit of the UN technical mission to the island.
"There are a number of technical missions pending to assess the safety and protection issue of the island. When the missions will brief us about their findings, we will start supporting the move," said EU Ambassador to Dhaka Rensje Teerink.
While exchanging views with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) members during a dialogue in the city, the EU envoy said the whole international community remains united to ensure that the Rohingyas will be repatriated to their homeland in Myanmar with safety and dignity.
Responding to a question, she said the EU has been engaged in supporting the Rohingya refugees since the beginning of the crisis.
Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Francisco Asis Benitez Salas, Italian Ambassador Enrico Nunziata, Dutch Ambassador Harry Verweij, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg Von Linde, and Danish Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen also took part in the discussion.
DCAB President Angur Nahar Monty and General Secretary Touhidur Rahman moderated the talks.
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