Bangladesh plans to move Rohingya refugees to remote island, UN expresses concern

Bangladeshi government is expected to move hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Cox's Bazar to Bhasan Char in Bay of Bengal in coming days amid concerns of inadequate facilities on island. Bangladeshi government this week anunced its plan to start relocating Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char, which is a low-lying island in Bay of Bengal and is prone to regular flooding and cyclones. move has garnered criticism from United Nations and Refugees International, who has called decision "short-sighted" and "inhumane". 

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UN demanding independent assessment

decision of Bangladeshi government to relocate Rohingya refugees is also receiving flak because of its denial to give access to United Nations for an independent assessment to review safety, feasibility, and sustainability of Bhasan Char. Bangladeshi government has been constructing site for several years w and is seeking to ease pressure on overcrowded camps at Cox's Bazar. Currently, re are more than 1 million refugees living in camps at Cox's Bazar, which international human rights groups say is t a humane condition to live in because of scarce and unhygienic environment. 

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camps that Bangladeshi government has built at Bhasan Char is suitable for at least 1,00,000 refugees, it says. government has said that facility with more than 100 shelters has been built 14 feet above ground level to prevent monsoon flooding and claims that housing can withstand winds of up to 260 kilometers per hour. government also claims that re are two 20-bed hospitals and several clinics with on-site medical staff for medical requirements of refugees and it also has three schools. However, United Nations and or refugee organizations are demanding permission for an independent assessment, which government is yet to provide. 

" United Nations has also consistently maintained that any relocations to Bhasan Char should be preceded by comprehensive technical protection assessments. se independent United Nations assessments would review safety, feasibility, and sustainability of Bhasan Char as a place for refugees to live, as well as framework for protection and assistance and services y would be able to access on island," UN said in a statement. 

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Rohingyas were forced to flee gecide in Myanmar's Rakhine state after facing state-sponsored persecution. international community including International Criminal Court (ICC) had called out Myanmar for ill-treatment of Rohingya Muslims, which South-East Asian State dismissed calling it a legitimate security action to target terrorism in country. More than 1 million Rohingyas fled to neighbouring Bangladesh and or Souast Asian countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia. 

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