Bangladesh to shift Rohingya refugee camps on humanitarian grounds

Bangladesh is shifting the camps for Myanmar's Rohingya refugees and the decision is driven by the ground reality, the state minister for foreign affairs has said.

Md Shahriar Alam told reporters on Wednesday the new place at Hatiya would ensure their better living before repatriation.

“It’s a policy decision. It’ll take time to shift them to a new place. The army has been given the task to arrange housing facilities in the new place,” he said.

He added that “there is no scope for any speculations about it”.

Shahriar said the current place of their living in Ukhia is “so bad that we cannot ensure their humanitarian needs including treatment”.

“One can easily notice the bad living condition if they go there. Even 10 people are living in a room meant for three people”.

He said the registered refugee camps at Kutupalang has the capacity for 30,000, but over 300,000 undocumented Myanmar nationals are living there, creating a negative impact on the overall environment and society.

The government recently formed four committees to identify the Rohingya people and stop further influx from Myanmar.

The district committees have been asked to make lists of Rohingyas and help the authorities to stop them leaving refugee camps.

They are also to help the authorities gradually transfer the registered and unregistered Rohingyas to the camp in Noakhali's Hatia.

The government move comes amidst the recent influx of Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Bangladesh is already sheltering 500,000 Rohingya refugees.

Around 65,000 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since the recent violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State started in October last year.

“Many of them are assimilating in the mainstream society of Bangladesh,” the state minister said, adding that the database would be prepared in three months.

“Then it’ll be easier for us to identify them and to ensure humanitarian support for them."

He said the government was building the necessary infrastructure on its own.

The OIC member states had shown their keen interest to support Bangladesh in the last meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he said, adding that the IOM and UNHCR are also helping Bangladesh.

The state minister, however, reiterated the government’s resolve that the solution to the crisis lies in recognising their citizenship by Myanmar.