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3rd phase of Rohingya relocation to Bhashan Char underway

Published at 04:08 pm January 28th, 2021

Rohingya refugees being transported in a bus to Chittagong from a refugee camp in Ukhiya for the third phase relocation to Bhashan Char. Photo taken on Thursday, January 28, 2021 Dhaka Tribune

Over 3,000 Rohingyas are to be relocated to Bhashan Char between Thursday and Friday

The third phase of Rohingya relocation to Bhashan Char began on Thursday morning with over 800 Rohingyas setting out on the journey from Cox's Bazar.

A total of 20 buses, carrying the refugees, took off for Chittagong from Ukhiya Degree College field around 12:30 pm.

Over 3,000 Rohingyas are to be relocated to Bhashan Char between Thursday and Friday.

According to Armed Police Battalion (APBn) sources, the Rohingyas, after reaching Chittagong, will stay under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy for the day. On Friday, a Navy vessel will transport them to Bhashan Char via the Karnaphuli River in Patenga.

In the first two phases, 3,446 Rohingyas were relocated to the river island.

Bangladesh Navy had built shelters in Bhashan Char, a remote island in Bay of Bengal measuring 13,000 acres, for at least 100,000 Rohingyas as well as a three-metre embankment to prevent flooding.

Almost a million Rohingyas have been sheltered in various makeshift camps in the south-eastern districts of Bangladesh. Most of them fled to Bangladesh following a military offensive in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017.