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5 years ago

Rohingya camps to be fenced off with barbed-wire

Picture used for representational purpose — Collected
Picture used for representational purpose — Collected

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The government has taken a fresh move to erect barbed-wire fencing around the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar to prevent the refugees from indulging in criminal activities and check human tafficking.

Senior officials of the home ministry told the FE on Tuesday that the necessity of fencing emerged in the wake of rise in criminal activities in the camps.

"We have plans to erect barbed wire fencing around the camps in Cox's Bazar to prevent criminal activities," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said.

Talking to the FE, Refugees Repatriation and Rehabilitation Commission chairman Mohammad Abdul Kalam said, "Earlier, a plan was initiated to do so, but due to the reservation from donors, it could not be implemented."

The official said last year the Refugees Repatriation and Rehabilitation Commission of the relief ministry asked for an allocation of Tk 31.9 million (3.19 crore) to build strong barbed-wire fences around the 11 Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhia, Teknaf and Ramu.

The relief ministry's proposal to set up fences was submitted to the finance ministry for approval, the official added.

The camps that will be fenced off are the old makeshift ones including those at Kutupalong Expansion, Kutupalong RC, Leda MS, Nayapara RC, Shamlapur and new spontaneous settlements including those at Hakimpara, Thangkhali, Unchiprang Jamtoli, Moynarghona and Chakmarkul.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at least around 0.7 million Rohingya have entered Bangladesh fleeing the violence which erupted in Myanmar on August 25 2017.

 

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