According to The Guardian’s exclusive footage, it has revealed the plans of Bangladesh to build concrete “prison-like” camps for Rohingya to relocate and shelter Rohingya refugees on the island in Bangladesh.
According to news reports, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had red flagged the plan in October, regarding settling Rohingya refugees on Bhasan Char Island, instead of facing opposition from several nations.
The plan of constructing camps for Rohingya has been secretive till the video by The Guardian has revealed it. About 100,000 Rohingya refugees are going to be forced live in the camps relocated for them on the island in Bangladesh.
About 700,000 refugees are right now living in Cox’ Bazaar, who fled from Myanmar, will going to be relocated to the Bangladeshi Bhasan Char Island. Only transport access to the island is a boat.
However, the island is under full tight navy security and only day labourers are allowed to access the island. The development is only allowed to Bangladeshi official to oversee. In fact, no footage and photos have been yet released.
According to The Guardian, an activist was quoted as saying, “Eerie; so many hundreds of thousands of prison-like units fit for an entire city of Rohingya.”
He further said, “The island is completely administered by the military and the only other people on the island are day labourers. This feels like more like a prison camp that a refugee haven.”
In fact, many UN aid agencies with human rights group have showed their concern over the plan of Bangladeshi government for Rohingya Refugees.
Deputy Asia director of human rights Phil Robertson said, “Bangladesh’s plan to transform a desolate isle into a packed settlement of Rohingya housed in stark concrete residential blocks raised concerns for both freedom movement and long-term sustainability.”
UN spokesperson said, “While questions remain over suitability of Bhasan Char, we welcome any attempt to decongest the heavily overcrowded settlements in Cox’s Bazaar.”