Following the failed attempt to begin Rohingya repatriation on November 15 last year, the government faces another setback in the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
The government’s elaborate plan to relocate the persecuted people—from Cox’s Bazar camps to Bhashan Char in Noakhali—may have to be re-evaluated.
The unwillingness of the Rohingyas and the international community—including different organs of United Nations (UN)—is the main reason behind the possible setback, according to multiple sources dealing with the Rohingya crisis.
The government, which had plans to start the relocation in mid-April, also appears to be backtracking from its plan to relocate the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char, an island 21 nautical miles from Noakhali in an estuary of the Meghna River.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on March 27 that the government was not sure when it would be possible to relocate the Rohingyas and if they would even be willing to go.
While speaking to Dhaka Tribune, from Thursday to Saturday, in different camps, dozens of Rohingyas said that under no circumstances would they go to the uninhabited island being developed by the Bangladesh Navy.
The Rohingyas told this correspondent that they would prefer dying in the camps than going to Bhashan Char.
Several government officials confirmed that no Rohingyas are interested in going to the island.
Preferring to remain anonymous, a senior government official suggested: "Enough consultations were not done before going ahead with the plan."
“Around Tk2,300 crore has already been allocated for the project. An additional Tk700 crore has been sought,” he said.
“Would you believe that the Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, who is the top government official to deal with the Rohingya crisis on the ground, was not consulted in regards to the development of Bhashan Char?” he said.
When contacted by Dhaka Tribune, Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said: “Look, it is a government decision to relocate some of the Rohingyas from the congested camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char. And, we will work as per the government's directive.”
“When the time will come, we will inform the Rohingyas about the relocation. Those who want to go will go and those who will not want to go will not go. No one will be sent forcibly,” he said.
In response to a question, Kalam, also an additional secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management, agreed: “I have also heard from my people on the ground that the Rohingyas are unwilling to move to Bhashan Char.”