In the fourth phase on Monday more than 2000 Rohingya refugees were relocated to Bhasan Char of Noakhali district.
A total of 5 ships of Bangladesh Navy carrying the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals left Patenga Boat Club Jetties in Chattogram at 9 am for Bhasan Char.
They were brought to Chattogram from Ukhia’s Balukhali and Kutupalong camps in Cox's Bazar on Sunday and Monday.
During conversations with many accompanying reporters, they said that they are going to Bhasan Char voluntarily to leave behind the miserable life of the crowded camp in Cox's Bazar.
Mohammad Rafique, a Rohingya, had taken refuge in Cox's Bazar with his family from Rakhaine state of Myanmar said, “We decided to settle in Bhasan Char after hearing about the happy and comfortable living conditions there from our relatives who have already settled there.”
The government has ensured all kinds of living facilities for the 2,014 Rohingyas from 407 families brought in from Chattogram on Sunday. In the same process another group of Rohingyas arrived in Chattogram on Monday in the fourth phase from various camps at Ukhia-Teknaf in Cox's Bazar for Noakhali's Bhasan Char.
Out of 2014 Rohingyas, there are 485 male, 577 female and 948 children. Senior Navy officials bid farewell to the Rohingyas at the Boat Club jetties. Bhasan Char Project Director Commodore Rashed Sattar welcomed them in the island settlement.
All Rohingyas in this phase arrived safely and all arrangements were done for the newly arrived Rohingyas, Commodore Rashed Sattar said.
Earlier, about 11,000 Rohingya refugees were relocated to Bhasan Char in three phases. In addition, 307 Rohingya refugees rescued from the sea while illegally entering Malaysia by sea are also staying in Bhasan Char.
In addition to providing shelter to the Rohingya, the Navy is also providing them with housing and other necessities.
The government has built a shelter project for the Rohingyas at a cost of about TK 3,000 crore in Bhasan Char, where at least 1 lakh Rohingyas can be accommodated.
Various programs have been launched to improve the living standards and livelihood of the Rohingyas who have gone to Bhasan Char In the last three phases. Various government departments including the Rural Development Board BRDB is working for that.
The country's southeastern district of Cox's Bazar has been home to Rohingya since 1991 from neighboring Myanmar's Rakhine state. There are now about 1 million Rohingyas living there, one of the largest refugee infiltrations in history in 2016 and 2017.
Rohingyas living in the world's largest refugee camp are living in a very inhumane environment, from there, the government has not taken any initiative to relocate them to Bhasan Char to find an easy life.
