Bhasan Char, a newly emerged island in Bay of Bengal, has now turned lively with the arrival of 1642 Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) known as Rohingyas starting a new life on the Island.
The shelter project, built by the Bangladesh government under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, has become a favourite destination within days for the Rohingyas from the world’s largest and very cramped refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the bordering district of Myanmar.
The Rohingyas, in Bhasan Char, said the shelter project and its facilities are beyond their expectations, and they are now influencing their relatives in Cox’s Bazar camps to come to settle at Bhasan Char.
On Friday, 390 families from the one million Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, were relocated from Chattogram by sea in a three-hour journey. They had come to Chattogram from the Cox’s Bazar camps on Thursday night by road.
On Saturday morning, the Rohingyas were found taking over and organizing their homes. Volunteers of different local non-governmental organizations escorted by law enforcers, distributed packets of fried rice, chicken and eggs as breakfast.
Manjur Alam (40), a community leader of Rohingyas from Balukhali Camp-11 in Cox’s Bazar, and now a resident of Bhasan Char said, “We are very much happy that such concrete homes are given to us by Bangladesh. We never expected this hospitality, and we thank the government.
We are informing our relatives over mobile phones that there is no problem, and we are eating and sleeping well, and they should all agree to come to (Bhasan Char), he added.
Many Rohingyas are now interested to come here when they know the actual condition existing here, said Manjur. “I am a leader of the community and confirm to you this is the best place for Rohingyas I have ever known,” he added.
In the morning, officials and staff of the Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commission or RRRC office began distributing the belongings of Rohingyas the authorities carried from Cox’s Bazar.
While receiving his belongings, Mohammad Ismail (41) said, this is a very nice place to live in compared to Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar, a place running short of space to live in and move in addition to violence.
“We expect the UNHCR, the UN refugee agencies and other international NGOs to come here, he said, “We urge the international body to start operation here immediately.”
Rohingyas will be given ready food for the next several days by a consortium of 22 NGOs, but many families have asked the authorities to provide kitchen appliances including LPG for cooking urgently. In the shelters there is a common cooking arrangement for every 10 to 12 families.
If we are given the chance, we can start a normal life, said Shamshera Begum (35).
There (Camps in Cox’s Bazar) we lived in very small shelters of bamboo and tarpaulin that could not save us from sun, shower and cold. But here is a permanent and very nice building here. It could change our life, she added.
For the first time, the Bhasan Char settlement for one hundred thousand Rohingyas looks like a playground when the children of the world’s most deprived nation frolic around in laughter. Some children were bathing using water from taps enjoying the pleasure of modern bathroom facilities.
Jasmin Prema, Chairperson of Shamaj Kallyan and Unnayan Sangstha, SKUS said the NGO consortiums have made a comprehensive decision to take separate responsibilities for food, non-food Items, education and health.
Within the shortest time, everything will run fine in the settlement, she said, we are prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to certain Rohinyas for a certain period.
In the meantime, the UNHCR and other international agencies may take over the responsibilities for humanitarian supply because they ( Rohingyas) are registered by them (UNHCR), Jasmin said.
On the first day of the Rohingyas in Bashan Char, the authorities concerned were a little busy in treatment arrangements. Some Rohingyas were rushing with their children to the medical facilities.
At a briefing, at Community Clinic -2 Dr. Mahatab Uddin, official of Noakhali Civil Surgeon’s office said a 20 bed hospital and two community clinics are already running with the help of NGOs. A team of 26 members of Bangladesh Health Directorate is also mobilized from different parts of the country.
Bangladesh Navy and other law enforcers are working to ensure security and organised management of the Rohingyas in the Island.
The TK 3000 core shelter project was constructed under the supervision of Bangladesh Navy with the support of a British Consultant and a Chinese construction firm.
Commodore Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury of Bangladesh Navy and Project Director of Bhasan Char Shelter Project told reporters, this is a very secure place for Rohingyas compared to Cox’s Bazar.
All requirements should be fulfilled within a short time, he said, as next week, a coronavirus test center and an isolation center will open.
