by Biplob Rahman,
BDNEWS writer
Dhaka, May 15 (BDNEWS) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has threatened to wind up its activities from Bangladesh following a series of incidents of violation of human rights in its two refugee camps for Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district.
As part of the move to wind up its work here, the UN agency also did not put its ink in the annual agreement with the disaster management ministry in the current fiscal.
The repatriation of 20,000 Rohingyas, who took shelter in the two refugee camps - Nayapa and Kutupalang - will face uncertainty, if the disagreement between the government and UNHCR is not solved over the human rights issues, officials working here in the UN agency, disaster ministry and Rohingya Repartition Commission (RRC) apprehended.
"Well, it is true that still we have some disagreement with the UN agency. We have already discussed with them over the issue. But the problem is yet to be resolved," Shamim Ahmed, Chief of Rohingya Refugee Cell of the disaster ministry, told BDNEWS.
He, however, admitted that no annual agreement with the UN agency this year is signed yet.
"We have already sent a proposal to UNHCR last week over the annual agreement. After agency's approval, it will further need government approval for some related matters," Shamim Ahmed added.
He, however, hoped that the repartition of the Rohinya refugees will be started soon after the both parties reached in a consensus.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over human rights situation in the two refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Dhaka Mulusew Mamo told the BDNEWS that the human rights situation in the camps is really bad.
"The refugees in the camps have no freedom of movement... virtually they are passing a captive life," Mamo added.
"We have already informed the Bangladesh government several times over the matter and hope that they will give more attention to the matter," he added.
Meanwhile, the fresh rebel attacks, which took 11 lives and injured 162 others, triggered fresh violence in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar. The fresh political unrest might fell negative impact on the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees to Myanmar from Bangladesh.
The May issue of RI Bulletin, an international magazine for refugees, published from Washington, USA, reported that the 20,000 Rohingya refugees in two camps in Cox's Bazar are virtually in captivity.
The report also said that despite sincerity of UNHCR in repatriation of Rohingya refugees, they are bound to pass an inhuman life there due to insincerity and negligence of Bangladesh government.
BDNEWS/1839 hrs
