First Group Of Myanmar Rohingyas Relocated To Bangladesh Island

The first batch of Rohingyas who fled their homes in Myanmar more than three years ago was relocated on Thursday to the Taka 23 billion cluster village on the Bhashanchar Island in the Bay of Bengal amid objections by the EU and UN.

The Dhaka government, constructed 120 cluster villages on 13,000 acres of the island to accommodate more than 100,000 people.

Officials said they were taken from the Ukhia camp in southeastern Cox’s Bazar on buses and guarded by police as well as the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB),

“We are providing security for Myanmar citizens in the relocation,” Lt Col Ashik Billah, director of RAB’s legal and media wing told the media.

The Rohingyas were gathered at the Ghumdhum Transit Camp on Wednesday night amid tightened security in the area..

The government announced the plan to relocate the first batch of Rohingyas in November and stuck to its decision despite objections and conditions made by the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).

After a recent visit to the Bhashanchar Island by a group of refugees, the Rohingyas agreed to be relocated, local officials said.

Some 1.1 million Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar due widespread persecution on the Muslim-minority group.

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