Bangladesh
Bhashan Char Rohingya refugees feeling much better in Bhasan Char than in Cox's Bazar, says Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Chairman
Dhaka, December 10: Myanmar's displaced Rohingyas are a thousand times better in Bhasan Char island than in Cox's Bazar, Hafiz Ahmed Majumder, chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, said. He added that if the international organizations understand the issue, they will accept it.
"About 13 international partners are working with us," he said. "Our role will reassure them. Gradually they will understand the matter. Over time, they must admit that the Rohingya are much better in Bhasanchar than in Cox's Bazar."
Hafiz Ahmed Majumder said, "Rohingyas are a thousand times better in Bhasan Char than in Cox’s Bazar. The reason why the idea about Bhasan Char has spread is that many people have not visited the island yet. Due to the lack of communication, our foreign friends who are there are not able to go to Cox's Bazar by jumping, just like they are not able to go to Bhasan Char. That is why they say so. Gradually they will be able to go. If the communication system is right, there will be no more problems in Bhasan Char."
He made the remarks while exchanging views with reporters at Patenga Boat Club in Chittagong city on Wednesday (December 9). Earlier on Tuesday, an eight-member high-level delegation led by the chairman of the Red Crescent Society visited Bhasan Char on the spot. Later they distributed relief materials among the Rohingya refugees living there.
In the southern part of the country, 1,642 Rohingyas were relocated on December 4 to the island of Bhasan Char, which was formed two decades ago. But many international organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have argued that the Rohingya should not have been relocated in this way.
"International organizations say the Rohingya have been rushed to Bhasan Char," said the Red Crescent Chairman. "Why are we saying hurry up? This has been done for a long time. The problem was that if they could come and go quickly, there would be no problem. The government also thinks that gradually the international organizations will understand the issue. They say they have no idea."
Comparing Bhasanchar to the Maldives, he said, "A country like the Maldives is just made up several islands. Bhasanchar is much safer than that. Our islands are much bigger than the Maldives."
