Bangladesh has relocated about 3,500 of the refugees from neighbouring Myanmar to Bhasan Char island since early December from border camps where a million live in ramshackle huts perched on razed hillsides. Bhasan Char emerged from the sea only two decades ago and is several hours by boat from the nearest port at Chittagong. The Rohingya, a minority group who fled violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, are not allowed to move off the island without government permission. "Last time, we had preparations for 700 to 1,000 but finally more than 1,800 Rohingya moved there. Bangladesh justifies the move to the island saying overcrowding in the camps in Cox's Bazar is leading to crimes.

Source: bd News24 January 27, 2021 13:48 UTC