Bangladesh will deploy army to rehabilitate Rohingyas, says Minister Obaidul Quader

The government has decided to engage army personnel in rehabilitating Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said.

Citing an order from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Quader said army personnel were already engaged in relief distribution but now they would join rehabilitation efforts.

“The local administration and law enforcers will work hand in hand. Army personnel are expected to speed up the process and prevent any mismanagement,” Quader said at the office of the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner on Wednesday.

Quader, also the minister for road, transport and bridges, received relief goods for Rohingyas donated by individuals and organisations there.

Border Guard Bangladesh, police, Rapid Action Battalion, armed police, village police and other agencies will be assigned special duties at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, he told bdnews24.com.

More than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a Myanmar military offensive that began after a series of guerrilla attacks on Aug 25 on security posts and an army camp in which about a dozen people were killed. Rohingya arrivals may swell to one million by the end of the year.