The government, on Tuesday said, the agitation by Rohingya in Bhasanchar island during the visit of high level UN delegation, on Monday, was ‘unexpected and undesirable’ but not quite abnormal.
It also blamed a section of civil society and international media for unleashing false propaganda against the relocation of Rohingya to Bhasanchar.
“The incident that took place in Bhasanchar during the visit of the UN delegation is unexpected and undesirable,” Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told the newsmen in his office.
He also noted that the agitation is not totally abnormal as Roingya refugees in Bhasanchar do not find the livelihood opportunities, which they got in Cox’s Bazar camps.
“Rohingya are involved in various income generating activities including small businesses in Cox’s Bazar, and it is well-known to all that some of the refugees are also engaged in availing ‘dark opportunities’ like human trafficking and illegal narcotics trade. But in Bhasanchar there is no scope of such illegal trade” Mr Masud explained.
He also said that many Rohingya, who tried to flee the island to get involved in such illegal businesses, were nabbed by the law enforcers from nearby areas.
Regarding the incident of Monday, the foreign ministry said, a two-member team from the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, comprising the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, is currently visiting Bangladesh.
As a part of their protection mandate, the team, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Bhashan Char on Monday.
During their tour to Bhashan Char, a large number of Rohingya gathered together and launched a demonstration. At one point, the crowd got agitated and in the process, some of the Rohingya reportedly received minor injury. Once the delegation left the island, the situation normalised, said a statement issued by the foreign ministry.
“The crowd had free and frank interactions with the AHCs and vented out their frustration and concerns over uncertainty vis-a-vis repatriation. In absence of any progress in repatriation, they expressed desperation to get out of the present situation and requested to consider relocation to a third country. The Rohingya demanded UN’s presence in Bhashan Char to ensure facilities such as education, livelihood activities, skill development etc. They also confirmed to the AHCs that their relocation to Bhashan char was completely on a voluntary basis” it added.
“It may be mentioned that in recent times there have been a number of important visits to Bhashan Char including the visits of the OIC Assistant Secretary General, the 18-member UN team and most recently a group of Ambassadors. During all these visits, the Rohingya spontaneously and happily interacted with the visiting guests both in informal and formal settings”.
The Government of Bangladesh noted with great disappointment that a section of international media and Civil Society Organisations have been continuously campaigning against Bhashan Char and Rohingya relocation with distorted information misrepresenting the facts. Such campaign will undermine the magnanimous humanitarian gestures and the sincere efforts of Bangladesh.
Excessive focus on temporary arrangement and undue criticism will only shift the focus from the permanent solution, which lies in repatriation and reintegration of Rohingya in Myanmar, the foreign ministry said.
“It must be remembered that the Rohingya are Myanmar nationals. Any arrangement for them in Bangladesh; be it in Cox’s Bazar or in Bhashan Char; is purely on a temporary basis until they return to their country. The Rohingya also want to return to their homeland and all including the UNHCR need to work constructively to that end”.
The statement also said, the UN is expected to assume its responsibility and operate within its mandate taking into account the ground reality and concerns of the host community.
The Government of Bangladesh, on its part, is ready to address any realistic needs and concerns of the Rohingya, it added.
