Bangladesh in no hurry to relocate Rohingya refugees
Minister says instead they are in discussions with UN agencies on how best to more 100,000 from Cox's Bazar to a new island
Dhaka — Bangladesh is not in a hurry to relocate Rohingya refugees to a Bay of Bengal island, a minister said on Monday, after the UN sought more details on the government’s plan, criticised by some human rights groups. Bangladesh wants to move 100,000 of the nearly 1-million Rohingya Muslims sheltered in cramped camps in its southeastern district of Cox’s Bazar to the remote island, known as Bhasan Char, which it has been developing for the past two years. The UN is making plans to help Bangladesh with the move. But on Monday the world body called for a thorough assessment to ensure the viability of the move, saying it was discussing “critical protection and operational issues” ahead of any relocation. “We’re also examining the potential operational implications of setting up a humanitarian response on Bhasan Char, including the requirements, time frames and costs involved,” the UN said. Bangladesh is in talks with UN humanitarian bodies, and working on their observations, said Ena...
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