Some media exaggerate news on Rohingyas’ demo

Some media outlets have exaggerated the news of demonstration staged by two rival groups of Rohingyas during the visit of UNHCR delegation in Bhasan Char on Monday.

The number of Rohingyas took part in the demonstration was not few thousands, as reported in the media. 

Actually, some 600 to 700 Rohingyas brought out demonstration demanding the UN to engage robustly and enhance relief activities for them, said sources at the government.  

But a vested quarter tried to create confusion amongst the Rohingyas and snatched the attention of media in a bid to jeopardize the ongoing process of relocation, involving the INGOs and UN.

Moreover, when majority of these Rohingyas were demanding the robust engagement of the UN, a few number of agents of this vested group started confusing the mass by giving negative slogans about Bhashan Char. 

As a result, inter-group conflict took place, leaving three to four Rohingyas injured. 

Most significantly these Rohingyas do not represent the whole group of Rohingyas, a total of 18,436, living in Bashan Char. Only 3.2% of Rohingyas living in Bhashan Char took part in the demonstration.

It has been learnt that huge money was distributed amongst these disgruntle Rohingya members to create the confusion during the visit of UNHCR delegation.

UNHCR representatives who visited Bhashan Char on Monday included Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operation. 

Following the exodus of almost millions of Rohingyas from Myanmar to Bangladesh the government took immediate measures to accommodate them in Cox's Bazar and Teknaf area. 

Having no alternative locations all Rohingyas were placed in these locations. 

Subsequently, considering the pressure on locals in terms of livelihood, environmental threat, security threat etc Bangladesh Govt decided to decongest these camps by relocating some of the Rohingyas to other locations. Then Bangladesh Navy built state-of-the-art facilities and accommodations in Bhashan Char with a view to ensure a dignified and sustainable temporary homestead to some of these Rohingyas who volunteer to relocate to Bhashan Char.

Meanwhile, the relocation of Rohingyas in Bhashan Char has been widely lauded by the President of UNGA, NGOs, INGOs, ambassadors of different foreign missions in Bangladesh and a good number of journalists.

All of them expressed their satisfaction on the standard of the infrastructures and facilities provided for the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char.

The President of UNGA, who visited Bangladesh last week, praised Bangladesh for taking these good measures. Later, media reported that the Rohingyas who opted to come and live in Bhashan Char, expressed their satisfaction. 

Presently, the government has been trying its best to initiate the process of robust engagement of UN in Bhashan Char for enhancing the facilities in this island in terms of relief goods, creating sustainable livelihood options.  

In continuation to this process UNHCR delegation visited Bhashan Char on Monday (May 31 in 2021). 

It is mentionable here that when the Rohingyas and the people of Bangladesh demand the robust engagement of the UN in making the life of Rohingyas of Bhashan Char easy, dignified and comfortable with the livelihood options, a vested quarter becomes active to make the process of UN engagement more difficult. 

However, there is no iota of truth of their propagation. Rather, the truth is that Bangladesh has built the facilities at Bhashan Char for the wellbeing of Rohingyas and giving them a sigh of relief in this state of their mental agony. 

The government urged the world community and UN to stand beside Bangladesh in managing this humanitarian crisis of Rohingyas in a better and efficient way; and show a ray of hope to this helpless Rohingyas.