Dailynewsun News Desk
The first group of 1642 Rohingyas reached Bhasanchar from city’s Patenga Boat Club under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy on Friday.
Earlier, they came to Patenga from Ukhiya Balukhali camp in Cox’s Bazar and started their journey with the help of eight naval ships for Bhasan Char at 10.30 am today after an overnight stay at a temporary transit camp at the BAF Shaheen College
Another 3,500 Rohingyas will be sent to Bhasanchar via Patenga this week and the relocation will be completed within a week, Navy sources said.
Lieutenant Commander MKZ Shamim of Bangladesh Navy told BSS that the first batch of 1642 Rohingyas reached Bhasanchar at 2.30 pm today from city’s Patenga Boat Club under the supervision of the Navy with the help of eight naval ships.
Concerned people informed that near one lakh Rohingyas will be taken to Bhasanchar in phases. In the first phase, about 3,500 Rohingyas will be taken there.
Besides, food items have been stored in Bhasanchar for three months. Initially, cooked food will be provided to Rohingyas by NGO’s. Representatives of 22 NGOs have started their respective works at Bhasanchar for this.
Jasmine Prema, chairperson of the Social Welfare and Development Organization, said that the government and 22 development agencies have been working to send only interested Rohingyas to Bhasanchar.
Before boarding the ship, the Rohingyas were given tokens and keys of the allotted shelter homes after various data entries. In addition to modern accommodation for the Rohingyas in Bhasanchar, educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds have already been set up, she added.
Mohammad Samsuddauja, 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. “Different types of vegetables are being planted. Paddy is also being cultivated experimentally there,” he added.
He said that cluster villages have been constructed in the project with the aim of accommodating one lakh one thousand 360 refugees. The number of houses is 1,440 in 120 cluster villages, he added.
He said the government has provided infrastructure of 120 cluster villages on the 13,000-acres of char land at a cost of Tk 2,312 crore with its own fund to accommodate more than one lakh Rohynga people. -BSS
