Census of undocumented Myanmar nationals staying in Bangladesh soon

The government will soon start fieldwork on conducting the first-ever census of undocumented Myanmar nationals staying in Bangladesh as the Planning Commission has cleared papers for allocation under the Annual Development Programme (ADP), reports UNB.
The groundwork of the project titled 'Census of the Undocumented Myanmar Nationals Staying in Bangladesh -CUMNSB 2015 Project' could not make progress much for lack of funds.
"The Planning Commission Wednesday issued papers for allocation under the ADP," Project Director M Alamgir Hossain told news agency.
He said they have been continuing work on internal preparations but the fieldwork will start with the release of funds.
Asked about the possible date for starting the work, Mr Hossain, also Deputy Director of the BBS Census Wing, said they will discuss their preparations with the national taskforce committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue and a final decision will come from the taskforce.
The census will help prepare a database on undocumented Myanmar nationals and find out the main causes of their intrusion into Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will conduct the survey in Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Chittagong, Khagrachhari and Patuakhali for the census under the project which will be completed by March 2016.
Asked whether they will be able to complete the work within the timeline, the project director said, "We'll try our best to complete the task within the given timeframe. The rest depends on situation."
Earlier on May 10, the Planning Commission approved the Tk 210.75 million project which was later placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for its approval.
A Foreign Ministry official said the government needs to determine the exact figure of undocumented Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh to resolve the long-pending issue in a systematic and transparent way stopping their further influx into Bangladesh.
Various figures are coming out in various ways on the number of Rohingya people in Bangladesh which is considered as a barrier to resolving the problem, he said.
Under the project, a database, comprising pictures and general information of Myanmar nationals, Rohingyas, would be prepared.
The census will also identify the present addresses of the Rohingyas and their origins in Myanmar. Besides, it will prepare their socioeconomic and demographic statistics.
There is no accurate statistics about how many Rohingyas are now living in Bangladesh, but it is estimated that the number would be .30 million to .50 million.
Despite strict vigilance in border areas, 8 to 10 Rohingyas are infiltrating into Bangladesh on average every day, according to the project document obtained by news agency.
Besides, these illegal Rohingyas have been settling in different areas, destroying the country's forests. They are also getting involved in criminal acts and contributing to the deterioration of law and order in the country, according to the project paper.
The project proposal also says these Rohingyas lead a very poor life, and the international community has requested Bangladesh to ensure a descent life for the Rohingyas.