1,804 more Rohingyas reach Bhasan Char from Ctg

GBNEWS24 DESK//

The second batch of 1,804 Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district from Patenga Boat Club under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy on Tuesday–24 days after the first batch went there.

Earlier, the Rohingyas reached Patenga from Ukhiya Balukhali Camp in Cox’s Bazar and started their journey on five naval ships for Bhasan Char at 9.20 in the morning after an overnight stay at a temporary transit camp at the BAF Shaheen College, reports BSS.

The first batch of 1,642 Rohingyas arrived at Bhasan Char under the Bangladesh Navy’s supervision on December 4 last, Bangladesh Navy sources said.

Alak Biswas, additional deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, told BSS that the second batch of 1,804 Rohingyas reached Bhasan Char at 11.30am from the city’s Patenga Boat Club on five naval ships.

Around one lakh Rohingyas will go to Bhasan Char in phases, sources said. As part of it, in the first phase, about 3,500 Rohingyas have already gone there, they said.

Food items have been stored in the char for three months as initially, cooked food will be provided to Rohingyas by NGOs, sources added.

Representatives of 22 NGOs have already started their respective works at Bhasan Char to this end.

Jasmine Prema, chairperson of the Social Welfare and Development Organization, said the government and 22 development agencies have been working to send Rohingyas to Bhasan Char who wants to go there voluntarily.

Before boarding the ship, the Rohingyas were given tokens and keys of the allotted houses after various data entries, she said.

In addition to modern accommodation for the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds have already been built, she added.

Mohammad Shamsuddoza, additional commissioner of the government’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Office, said that buffaloes, sheep, ducks and pigeons are being reared there for gearing up economic activities.