Section of global media, CSOs campaigning against Bhasan Char: Govt

The government on Tuesday said a section of international media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been continuously campaigning against Bhasan Char and Rohingya relocation with distorted information.

Noting this with “great disappointment” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such campaign will undermine the magnanimous humanitarian gestures and the sincere efforts of Bangladesh, UNB reports.

“Excessive focus on temporary arrangement and undue criticism will only shift the focus from the permanent solution, which lies in repatriation to and reintegration of Rohingyas in Myanmar,” said the MoFA in a media release.

During UNHCR senior officials tour to Bhasan Char, a large number of Rohingya gathered  and launched a demonstration.

At one point, the crowd got agitated and in the process, some of the Rohingyas reportedly got minor injury, said the Ministry adding that once the delegation left the island, the situation normalized.

The two-member team from the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, comprising the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, is currently visiting Bangladesh.

As a part of their protection-mandate, the team, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Bhasan Char on Monday.

The crowd had “free and frank interactions” with the AHCs and vented out their frustration and concerns over uncertainty vis-a-vis repatriation.

In absence of any progress in repatriation, they expressed desperation to get out of the present situation and requested to consider relocation to a third country, said the Ministry.

The Rohingyas demanded UN’s presence in Bhasan Char to ensure facilities such as education, livelihood activities, skill development etc, MoFA said.

They also confirmed to the AHCs that their relocation to Bhasan char was completely on a voluntary basis.