Yangon: The Rohingya refugee crisis which escalated in 2017 caused a massive influx of refugees into Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in March 2019, that over 909,000 Rohingya refugees resided in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas in Bangladesh, with the majority living in 34 camps under overcrowded conditions.
According to the HRW report, the Bangladesh authorities initially reported the refugees were taken to Bhasan Char instead of Cox’s Bazar as a temporary measure to quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, after a complete year, the refugees are currently being held on the island against their will. The HRW report consists of interviews of Rohingya refugees living on the island. These refugees have pleaded for months to return to Cox’s Bazar to reunite with their families. AFP
