BNP's relief goods for the Rohingya stuck at its office

Twenty-two truckloads of relief goods that the BNP took to Cox's Bazar for the Rohingya refugees, have been kept at the party's district unit office for the last three days. The local administration prevented them from distributing the relief aid on September 13, telling them that some rules had to be followed in giving the refugees relief and everyone was following them. But the BNP, irked by the decision, cried foul and claimed that only they were being forced to follow all rules and regulations. BNP's Cox's Bazar unit President and former parliamentarian Shah Jahan Chowdhury said the relief goods were taken back to the party office after being being barred by the administration. “We will decide the next course of action after receiving permission from the central leaders,” he said. Shah Jahan criticised the administration's decision, claiming that other political parties did not have to follow any rules unlike the BNP. Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Ali Hossain said everyone providing relief goods to the Rohingya refugees had taken the district administration's permission. “There is chaos whenever anyone distributes relief on their own,” he said. “That is why the BNP has been told to distribute the relief with the assistance of the administration. But the party wants do it by itself.” He said the Turkish first lady, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad and others, who provided relief, handed over the supplies to the district administration after formalities, and the administration later distributed the rest among the refugees. “Moreover, we only distribute relief at certain spots. So, the BNP was asked to distribute the goods through the administration after giving relief to some of the Rohingya. But they did not accept it,” he added.