Another 1,464 Rohingyas reach Bhasan Char from Ctg

ZOOMBANGLA DESK:  A total of 1,464 Rohingyas today reached Bhasan Char from city’s Patenga Boat Club in the fourth batch under the supervision of Bangladesh Navy, BSS reports.

They arrived at the Bhasan Char 24 hours after the 3rd batch of Rohingyas reached there as a part of their relocation, sources said.

Earlier, they reached Patenga from Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya Balukhali camp and left for Bhasan Char with the help of four naval ships around 9.20 am today after an overnight stay at a temporary transit camp of BAF Shaheen College here.

The first group of 1,642 Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char on December 4, the second batch of 1,804 Rohingyas on December 29, in 2020 and the 3rd batch of 1778 Rohingyas yesterday under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, sources said.

Milon Mahmud, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), told BSS that the fourth batch of 1,464 Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char around 1 pm today.

Before boarding the ship, the Rohingyas were given tokens and keys of the allotted shelter homes after various data entries, he added.

Mohammad Samsuddauja, Additional Commissioner of the government’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Office, said food items have been stored in Bhasan Char for three months.

Initially, cooked food will be provided to Rohingyas by different Non Government Organisation (NGO)’s as representatives of 22 NGOs have started their respective works at Bhasan Char in this regard, he added.

In addition to modern accommodation for the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds have already been set up, he continued.

Jasmine Prema, Chairperson of the Social Welfare and Development Organisation, said the government and 22 development agencies have been working to send only interested Rohingyas to Bhasan Char.

Mohammad Samsuddauja said that buffaloes, sheep, ducks and pigeons are being reared there for gearing up economic activities.

“Different types of vegetables are being planted. Paddy is also being cultivated experimentally there,” he added.

He went on saying that the government has provided infrastructure of 120 cluster villages on the 13,000-acres of char land at a cost of Taka 3,095 crore with its own fund to accommodate more than one lakh Rohynga people.