A New Dwelling for Rohingya Refugees – The Diplomat

The controversial relocation of Rohingya refugees to Bhashan Char in Bangladesh has lastly begun after years of uncertainty. On December 4, the primary batch of 1,642 individuals from the present camps within the nation’s coastal district of Cox’s Bazar had been transferred in vessels to the island within the Bay of Bengal underneath Hatiya upazila (subdistrict) of Noakhali.

The mission, known as Ashrayan-3, which is unfold over 13,000 acres was applied by the Bangladesh Navy with the help of MDM Architects and H R Welingford. Officers in Bangladesh had been quoted by the media as saying that $350 million was spent on the mission conceived 5 years in the past by the federal government to test deterioration of the safety scenario and injury to the atmosphere in Cox’s Bazar the place a lot of the refugee camps are situated.

The amenities created within the island embody 1,400 cluster homes, 120 cyclone shelters, administrative buildings, workplaces for the U.N. and non-governmental organizations, colleges, two hospitals with 20 beds every, aid facilities, warehouses, hearth and police stations, lighthouse, mosques, a helipad, 2 megawatt energy vegetation, and street and drainage networks. A 12.1 kilometers lengthy and two-meters excessive embankment with built-in drainage has been constructed to guard the inhabitants and onshore infrastructure from flood. Amenities for agriculture, fish and poultry farming, cattle rearing and dairy manufacturing have been offered within the island.

The U.N. and rights teams have raised questions on the relocation plan saying that the island was flood susceptible and will get submerged throughout excessive tides. Nevertheless, a high authorities official has claimed that the island was secure from pure disasters.  He stated that delegates from the U.N. and different world organizations would quickly be taken on a tour of the island.

Rajeev Bhattacharyya is a senior journalist in Assam, India.