Bangladesh- UN sign MoU on relocation of Rohingya refugees

The Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations signed an MoU on Saturday for the relocation of Rohingya refugees to the newly developed facility at  the Bhasan Char Island. According to a press release issued by the UNHCR, the MoU sets out the policy framework of services and  common protection for the Rohingya humanitarian response on the island.The MoU recognises  the  generosity of the government of Bangladesh for hosting almost 9 lakh Rohingya refugees in the country. It allows for close cooperation between the Bangladesh government and the UN to provide services and activities for the benefit of the increasing number of Rohingya refugees living on the island. It covers key areas of  protection, education, skill development, training, livelihood and health which will help prepare them for sustainable return to Myanmar in the future.
The UN said that the support should continue until refugees are able to return to Myanmar in a safe,voluntary, dignified and sustainable manner which remains the shared priority of the UN and government of Bangladesh. Bhashan char is an uninhabited Island which has been developed at a cost of Tk 3100 crore as a relocation centre for refugees  currently living in the refugee camps at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. It has a capacity to accommodate approximately 1 lakh  Rohingya refugees. Earlier several environmental groups expressed concern over the fragile ecological situation on the island which emerged less than 20 years back from the sea. They point out the threat of cyclone, erosion and other natural disasters for the people who will live on  the Island. However, the govt of Bangladesh maintains that the facility is well protected as sufficient arrangement has been made with cyclone shelters and high embankment on the island.Till now close to 20,000 Rohingya refugees have already been settled on the Bhashan Char Island by the government.Generally the facility at Bhashan char is considered better compared to the overcrowded camps at Cox's Bazar.