Chattogram, Bangladesh. 17 February, 2024 – In a notable departure from previous practice, authorities have decided not to return 20 Rohingya refugees who escaped from Bhasan Char. Instead, they have been relocated to the camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. This raises questions about the viability of the controversial island settlement.
The group, consisting of ten adults and ten children, was detained by locals in Chattogram’s Anandabazar area in the early hours of Monday. They were later handed over to the police.
According to Bandar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Muhammad Sultan Ahsan, residents became suspicious after spotting the group between 3:30 am and 4:00 am. Upon questioning, the detainees admitted to having fled Bhasan Char with the assistance of traffickers.
“They escaped on Sunday, travelling by boat before being dropped off at Anandabazar’s coastline around 9:00 pm,” said OC Ahsan.
Initially, authorities considered sending them back to Bhasan Char, but after consulting relevant officials, they opted to transfer them to the Ukhiya refugee camps instead.
This decision marks a shift. Previously, Rohingya escapees were typically returned to the remote island, but a growing number of cases - numbering in the thousands - have highlighted the ongoing reality: Rohingya refugees continue to risk everything to flee Bhasan Char.
The repeated escapes raise ongoing concerns about conditions on the island and the authorities' failure to stop traffickers from exploiting desperate refugees. By choosing not to send this group back to Bhasan Char, is Bangladesh quietly admitting it cannot keep people there?
