DHAKA (Bywire News)- Bangladesh has announced its plans to transport more Rohingya refugees to the island known as the refugee island, Bhasan Char. There have been calls from human rights groups to halt any relocation of refugees, yet Bangladesh will continue to move refugees from its neighbour, Myanmar.
An estimated 1,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees will be transported to the remote island after having fled Myanmar. Earlier this month Bangladesh relocated over 1,600 Rohingyas.
An official with direct knowledge of the relocation said, "They will be moved to Chittagong first and then to Bhasan Char, depending on the high tide." The government official requested to keep his identity anonymous.
The deputy government official in Bangladesh, who oversees refugees, Mohammed Shamsud Douza, suggested the move was the refugee's choice. He said, "they will not be sent against their will."
Bhasan Char, which lies in the Bay of Bengal, is known for being prone to flooding and is yet to be inspected by the United Nations on the basis of safety and technicalities. The UN has said it has not been allowed to assess the island nor was not involved in the refugee relocation.
According to Bangladesh, only refugees who wish to go will be transferred. With more than 1 million Rohingya refugees cramped in the camps of Bangladesh, the move is said to relieve the mass overcrowding issue.
However, many refugees and human rights activists have argued that the Rohingya have been pressured into making the move to Bhasan Char, an island that popped up 20 years ago.
Earlier this month, Abdul Momen, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister told the UN that prior to the examination of Bhasan Char, they should assess the suitability of the living conditions in Myanmar's Rakhine state, in regards to repatriation.
Several attempts to kickstart repatriation of Rohingya to Myanmar have failed after refugees said they were too fearful of further violence to return.
There have been several attempts to repatriate the Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, but all failed once refugees expressed their fear of further violence and backlash.
(Written by Klaudia Fior)