Another 1,778 Rohingyas reach Bhasan Char, 1,500 more on way
1,700 Rohingyas who reached Bhasan Char have been accommodated to their rooms in Bhasan Char
A fleet of 1,778 Rohingyas (first batch) in four ships arrived in Bhasan Char in Noakhali on Friday afternoon in the third phase of the government's relocation project.
Confirming the matter, Navy Commodore Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury said 1,500 more Rohingyas (second batch) are expected to reach the island on Saturday.
Thirty buses carrying 1,500 Rohingyas that left for Bhasan Char will stay in Chattogram at night and leave for Bhasan Char by ships on Saturday morning, Mohammad Shamsud Douza, additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, confirmed.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Rohingyas along with their families from different camps in Ukhia and Teknaf gathered at Ukhia Degree College field since Thursday night. After registering their names, they left for Chattogram Friday afternoon.
After completing the final procedures at the transit camp of BAF Shaheen College in Chattogram, they will be taken on board on Saturday under the management of the Bangladesh Navy.
Meanwhile, Deputy Project Director of Bhasan Char Project (Asrayan Project-3) Commander M Anwarul Kabir said more than 1,700 Rohingyas who reached Bhasan Char were accommodated in their rooms in the centre.
On 4 December, in the first phase, 1,642 Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char. In the second phase, 1,804 people were taken there on 29 December.
Earlier, the government took 306 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char in May after they failed to reach Malaysia by sea illegally.
On August 25 2017, more than 7.5 lakh Rohingyas took refuge in Bangladesh after crossing the border in the face of killing and torture by the Myanmar army.
Altogether, over 11 lakh Rohingyas are now living in various camps in Cox's Bazar.
According to official data, the government has implemented the Bhasan Char Relocation Project at Tk3,095 crore from its funds for Rohingya relocation.
Infrastructure has been built in 120 cluster villages suitable for one lakh Rohingyas.
The Bangladesh Navy is responsible for the implementation and management of the entire housing project in Bhasan Char.
BHASAN CHAR
Bhasan Char, located around 39km from Noakhali in an estuary of the Meghna River, was covered in a shroud of grass and mangrove trees but now the desolate island has taken a new look altogether with buildings painted pink.
From houses for living, solar panels for electricity, biogas fuel for cooking and waste management system, cyclone centres, mobile phone network – everything is available for its new habitants.
Some 1,00,000 Rohingyas will gradually be shifted to Bhasan Char, which is well-equipped with modern facilities, including schools, mosques, community clinics, mobile networks and internet, for Rohingyas.
The whole island is mostly solar-powered with solar systems installed on rooftops of all 1,440 buildings, including 120 cyclone shelter centres.
The buildings have around 52,000 lights. Around 1,000 solar-powered street lights illuminate the island's streets at night.
The ponds, each 5,461 square feet, will be used as alternative sources of water. Besides, there are also rainwater harvesting facilities in all cluster houses.
Roads stretching around 42km have been constructed for internal communication. Human haulers and battery-run rickshaws will ply the roads.
The mobile phone network on the island is provided by Grameenphone and Robi. A fire station is also there.
