New Safe Home for Rohingya Community in Bhasan Char

New Safe Home for Rohingya Community in Bhasan Char

Report on SKUS visit 29/11/2020 to 5/12/2020

New Safe Home for Rohingya Community in Bhasan Char

Background Geographical location: Bhasan Char, an island equipped with sources of livelihood and natural beauty in Noakhali, is ready to accommodate underprivileged people with all kinds of modern facilities. The island, around 21 nautical miles away from headquarters, has communications facilities with engine boats for the public while scheduled ships operate from Chattogram for commercial use. The total landmass of Bhasan Char is 13,000 acres, including low-lying areas -- of which 6,427 acres is now usable. Of the usable land, 432 acres were developed for the residential infrastructure, 1,702 acres for embankment construction, and 918 acres for foresting. Infrastructure development: Navy has developed the At a glance Bhasan char structure & map mega infrastructure to make the island ready for habitat under the Ashrayan-3 project in line with the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to rehabilitate the distressed people. There is a capacity to accommodate around 100,000 distressed people in Bhasan Char. Initially, the project officials plan to relocate the displaced Rohingyas of Myanmar from Cox's Bazar to Bhasan Char. "In the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Navy has constructed the mega residential infrastructure to relocate displaced SKUS chairprson in front of rohingya living houses

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Rohingyas with the view of keeping the displaced community away from the countrymen through Eco-friendly Sustainable Development," Ashrayan-3 supervised by Project Director Commodore Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury. The entire project has been developed based on cluster house, shelter station. In the architecture of the infrastructure, the houses have been constructed 4-meter height from the land.

Program coordinator of Bhasan char with RRRC describining Bhasan chor programme facility

There is a total of 1,440 houses surrounding 120 shelter stations. Around 100,000 people can be accommodated in the houses, according to officials. "In the project, has been focused on steel for making the infrastructure sustainable for habitat people in any emergency. Every shelter station can accommodate indoor of Rohingya community residence

Ongoing livelihood programme (ram, duck & fish farm ) under the supervision Bangladesh Navy

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1,000 people at a time while the livestock animals can be kept safe in the underground of the buildings. Opportunities and Developments The livelihood opportunities on the island, officials of the project, mentioned that locals get success in the farming of sheep, buffalos, pigeons, and poultry. Besides this, there are considerable opportunities to cultivate fruits and paddy as the salinity of the land has been reduced significantly in the last two years. Of 120 shelters, there are 20 allocated shelters for civil administration, development agencies, learning centres, mosques, community clinics, super shops, daycare centres as well as an orphanage. There is constructed a market infrastructure that can be used for food distribution among locals. There are developed 20-bed hospitals and four community clinics with modern equipment for medical treatment. For the security of the island, there is a developed 9 feet high embankment over a 12- 9 feet high embankment over a 12-kilometer shoreland kilometre shoreland. The embankment will be (it will be increased to 19 feet) 19 feet within a short time for improving shore protection from any super cyclone. There were 1-megawatt solar-powered stations while 1-megawatt generator and three diesel- powered generators with 500-kilowatt capacity for uninterrupted power distribution. "Mobile phone operators Grameenphone and Robi have offered 4G network here, and also The state-run Teletalk is providing service in the tower sharing model. Recently, representatives from 22 non-government organizations have reached Bhasan Char with food items for Rohingyas. Foods will be provided for them for two months, and then they will have to cook their foods. Social & Economic freedom The area is fully occupied with a green environment and people believing forests theory goddess. Along with purified water from rivers and areas also could be to produce an organic method of cultivation of paddy and other vegetables. They mainly depend upon the cultivating products. The , directly and indirectly, protecting ecology as well as the green environment. There has a lot of free land of opportunity for cultivating crops. Two emergency helipads within dense green forest

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The project aims to bring positive changes to the livelihood practices of local communities through livelihood activity. The livelihood opportunities/income-generating activities can be identified considering the existing socio-cultural practices of the target communities. The skill- building measures should be planned to improve the effectiveness of existing livelihood practices. The project will not impose any method that is locally unviable. The behavioural and attitudinal changes brought in by the project among the women will empower them to participate in decision-making processes at the community level actively. The socio-cultural changes brought in by the project, in terms of livelihood practices, will have a lasting impact on the target beneficiaries even beyond the project period. The project will significantly affect the lives of the Rohingya community in their income generation activities, livelihood security, and self- employability. It will strengthen the target Rohingya communities' income generation opportunities through tools and capacity-building support. It is expected that the beneficiaries will continue the livelihood practices, which directly contribute to the increased family economy. Further, the groups will continue to access resources from NGOs financial, donors, RRRC, government agencies through the linkages created under the project. SKUS plans to continue the project from income generated activity so that the external support is received from the government, donor, and other agencies.

In a word, Bhasan Char is surrounded by rivers and 10 feet profound of water sources like pond, stream, big lake, etc. And a significant part of the total population of this Rohingya community was directly or indirectly involved with fish or fish related business. Already the navy is cultivating fishing farming in Bhasan Chor. & there is a lot of space for land rest for cultivating crops & vegetables around the big pond. People can easily grow their food from this land & also they can fulfil their demand. The economy of the Rohingya community was mostly dependent on agriculture and agriculture-related business. And fish Collected shrimp from bhasan char pond farming has great potential. The main benefits of starting fish farming in Bhasan Char are listed here.

▪ The climate and environment of Bhasan Char are very suitable for fish farming. ▪ Various types of fish species are available, which are very useful for profitable fish farming. ▪ An easy source of water and necessary elements. ▪ Low-cost labour and other management costs are also minimum. ▪ The suitable market for selling the products. Fish has a great demand for the Rohingya of Bhasan Char. So, we do not have to think about marketing the products.

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▪ You can start fish farming in both small- and large-scale production types. There are 120 ponds and a big lake ▪ Fish farming in the Rohingya community is already a significant source of employment, and many working facilities can be created through the fish farming system. Even the unemployed educated Rohingya people can also contribute to this farming (mainly Rohingya employe will be involved) and build a lucrative business and earning opportunity for them.

SKUS contribution for Bhasan Char

The initiative of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, a special shelter project was taken up at Bhasan Char in Hatia of Noakhali to provide shelter to the Rohingyas. After the implementation of the project under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy ensured the safe life of 1 lakh Rohingyas and started the process of relocation, welcoming such a great initiative of the government, 22 non-government development organizations extended their hand of cooperation as government agencies. Samaj Kalyan o Unnaya Shangstha (SKUS) is one of them. Higher officials' personnel of the Bangladesh Navy, Higher officials' personnel of the Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, other important government personnel, including SKUS chairman Jasmine Prema and heads of 22 organizations visited Bhasan Char and expressed their satisfaction. Later, SKUS emergency relief distribution note handover to UNO according to the government's decision, when the process of Rohingya relocation started in Sheikh Hasina's special shelter project Bhasan Char, Jasmine Prema, the chairperson of the women's development organization SKUS, rushed to extend the hand of humanity among the Rohingyas in the bey of Bengal Island Bhasan Char.

In coordination with the officials of Bangladesh Navy and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, 500 blankets, winter clothes of 500 children, 26 sacks of chira, and daily necessities were distributed among 1642 Rohingyas transferred by SKUS.

Jasmine Prema told reporters that Bhasan Char is one of the most suitable places for people to live, which is much better than the Ukhia and Teknaf camps in Cox's Bazar. The quality of service is also excellent. Such a great initiative of the government should be appreciated. The life of Rohingyas in Bhasan Char will be much safer and better. They will be able to earn their income with the help of the government and NGOs. They could be self-reliant as human beings. He

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added that education up to the secondary level had been arranged for Rohingya children in Bhasan Char.

1642 Rohingya relocated in Bhasan Char

The first batch of Rohingya refugees reached Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal under Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali, in the afternoon on Friday. They arrived on the island around 2:00 pm. At about 10:20 am on Friday a total of 1,642 Rohingyas headed for Bhasan Char in navy ships. The navy oversaw ensuring the security of the ships carrying them. A convoy of 19 vessels was involved in transferring the Rohingyas. Five navy ships and one army ship ferried the Rohingyas while one navy ship was on stand-by to provide back-up in case of emergency. Four-speed boats, four-country boats, and two navy and two coast guard boats were 1642 Rohingya relocated in Bhasan Char with a smiley face escorting the six ships. Naval vessels Shah Paran and Shah Makhdum carrying 1,019 luggage reached Bhasan Char on Thursday,

Many 22 NGO representatives were waiting for these ships on the bank of Bansan Char. The Rohingya people delighted to come to Bhasan Char. Bhasan Char authority was happy to receive them from the boats, and they sanitize them & send them to their receipt station after some counselling and praying. They entered their allocated rooms with their family members & they become thrilled to see the well- furnished room. SKUS Chairperson Jesmin Prema with the realocated rohingya community

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Rohingya arrive in Bhasan Char

Government Vision and Plans

Mohammad Abul Kalam, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, said they would first take a delegation of Rohingyas to the island so they can see the development with their own eyes and convince others.

"As the displaced people from Myanmar are yet to get refugee status, they can be termed as 'stateless people'. Following the local regulation, they (Rohingya) can't transact money. We think about developing a culture of exchanging products in a standard process," Commander Kabir Said.

"We're improving the embankment. However, the general tide was not more than 2.5 feet. We experienced a couple of cyclones like Fani and Bulbul. There is no damage luckily. Interestingly, a group of international experts has shown that the island is safe from cyclones due to its geographical location," Commander Kabir added.

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"The Rohingyas can generate savings by doing this sort of work, and it will help them when they go back to Myanmar," said the Noakhali DC.

Assuring the Rohingya people of a better living compared to the current life they are leading, Noakhali Deputy Commissioner Tanmoy Das said "the island has been developed in a way that can not only ensure a comfortable living but also help Rohingya people develop their lives socially and financially. They can choose to work here. We have developed the island in a way that they can work in cottage industries, agricultural work, fish farming, and animal husbandry. They can even set up shops here. It will make them economically independent,"

Some non-government organizations have already been contacted to purchase products produced by the community on the island, and to sell them outside with proper branding, he added.

SKUS Chairperson with Government Body , 22 Ngo representative & SKUS staff

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