The government of Bangladesh is making arrangement temporarily for providing food and shelter to Rohingya people who fled Myanmar atrocities in Rakhine state.
However, a minister said, if their stay in Bangladesh is prolonged, they would be taken to Bhasan Char in Noakhali.
The number of Rohingyas who fled Myanmar due to repression in recent times has exceeded 450,000, disaster management and relief minister Mofazzal Hossain told newsmen after the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees Filippo Grandi met him on Monday.
The minister mentioned that the government is ready to take assistance from UNCHR office in providing support to the Rohingya people.
He said the UNHCR has agreed to provide Tk 350 million for making internal roads in Cox’s Bazar where the Rohingyas have taken shelter.
Money will be available soon and the army will start construction of the roads, the minister added.
About the newborns of Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh, the secretary of the ministry, Md Shah Kamal said their birth registration is being completed and they would be considered Myanmar citizens.
Asked if the Rohingyas would be considered as refugees, he said they are currently being considered as infiltrators. If it is found during the bilateral discussion that the matter is a long-term issue, we will then review their status, he added.
Source: Prothom Alo
