Under the supervision of international organisations, the goods will be distributed among 15,000 Rohingya families, 5,500 in Teknaf and 9,500 in Ukhiya upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
Two committees will oversee the distribution of the relief goods. Saiful Islam Majumder, Cox’s Bazar additional deputy commissioner, will head a 16-member district level committee while the other sub-district committee will be headed by the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officer.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Ali Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that the ship had also brought in 183 volunteers from 19 countries.
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He added that authorities have hired 150 trucks to ship the goods to Cox’s Bazar by road.
“The relief distribution will begin within 3-4 days under the direct supervision of International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society,” Ali explained.
The food items include grain, rice, mineral water, coffee, biscuits, sugar and edible oil and the non-food items include medicines and blankets.
Malaysian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Nur Ashikin Binti Mohd Taib, Acting Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Sarwar Jahan and Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Khurshed Alam, Acting Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Commodore Zulfiqur Aziz, Secretary General of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society BMM Mazharul Haque, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Shamsul Arefin and IOM Head of Resource Management Raad Rahman were present at the handover ceremony, among others.
Khurshed Alam said: “Bangladesh government has undertaken a plan to relocate the Rohingya refugees from Cox’s Bazar to Thengar Char coastal island in Hatiya on the Bay of Bengal.”
In her speech, Taib said a solution must be found so that the Rohingya refugees can return home.
“We need to make a concerted effort in order to resolve this crisis. It is commendable that Bangladesh has stood beside the distressed Rohingya people since 1991,” she added.
She stated that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia will strengthen in the days to come.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
