The government has decided to take birth control measures in the Rohingya camps to curb alarming population growth among the refugees.
This was decided on Sunday at the fourth meeting of the National Committee on Coordination, Management and Law and order of Displaced Myanmar Citizens, held in the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The meeting was presided over by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal when State Minister for Disaster and Relief Md Enamur Rahman was also present.
The meeting also decided that the UNHCR database would be used to prevent the Rohingyas from getting Bangladeshi passports.
Emerging from the meeting, the home minister said the birth rate was alarmingly high in Rohingya camps with about 35,000 births reported every year.
The health authorties and the Islamic Foundation would be asked to take necessary steps to control it, he added.
He said the meeting recommended increasing joint patrols in Teknaf and Ukhiya upazilas of Cox's Bazar and inside the Rohingya facility at Bhashan Char in Noakhali.
Naval patrol activities in coastal areas would be further intensified to monitor any possible flight of Rohingyas from the island, the minister said, adding that intelligence surveillance would be increased further.
Moreover, joint patrol by police, Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) inside the Rohingya camps will be intensified to maintain law and order.
Outside the camp, Bangladesh Army, BGB, RAB and police are patrolling jointly. If necessary, the Army will conduct joint operations with other law enforcement agencies through coordination.
The drives against illegal shops inside the Rohingya camps would be continued, the home minister said.
Asaduzzman added that barbed wire fences and patrol roads were being constructed around the camps. “The work of barbed wire fences is about 80% complete.
“Arrangements are being taken to prevent any Rohingya from fleeing the camp,” he added.