Dhaka Tribune
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, back from Ukhiya Published at 12:06 am April 29th, 2019
This photo taken recently shows a makeshift rohingya camp in cox’s Bazar
Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
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Police and the administration cite a lack of manpower
It appears to not be difficult at all for Rohingyas living in different settlements in Cox’s Bazar to leave the temporary camps for other destinations in the country.
The residents are not allowed to leave the settlements without prior permission from the authorities concerned.
In recent visits to different settlements controlled by the government, the Dhaka Tribune found that, the Rohingyas, if they want, can get out of the camps with the help of some locals and by “managing” the police personnel in charge.
Locals of Ukhiya and Teknaf, as well residents of Cox’s Bazar town, believe that Rohingyas are spreading across the country, and this is going to create a big problem for the nation.
With time, the situation will get worse if the “free movement” can not be brought under control, they added.
When contacted by this correspondent, officials concerned, including police, said they are doing their best with a “limited workforce.”
Also Read- Over 100 Rohingyas held across country in four months
“We often see that Rohingya people come to our localities to work as day labourers, and are employed by Bangladeshis because the cost of their services is much lower than local labourers,” said Mohammad Islam, a resident of Court Bazar, Ukhiya.
"They manage to get out of the camp by paying the on-duty police some money,” he said.
“The Rohingyas have already spread across Cox’s Bazar, and soon they will spread across the country,” said Rashed Ahmed, a student.
Rohingyas are occasionally found near Chittagong city, which is roughly 175km away from the Rohingya settlements.
“Sometimes, we find Rohingyas when we check different buses. But, this exercise cannot always find all the people,” said Sub-Inspector Didarul Alam, officer-in-charge of a temporary police check post at Moizzar Tek, a place right before Shah Amanat Bridge of Chittagong.
“Since there are no provision for punishing the Rohingyas, we take them to a designated cell and later send them back to the camps,” he said.
Another policeman said: “We find Rohingyas on the buses we check almost every day.”
“Despite our best efforts, it is true that Rohingyas sometimes get out of the camps without authorisation. With our limited personnel, it is difficult to ensure a fool-proof situation,” said a sub-inspector of Camp-9 at Balukhali.
“We can stop those who use roads, but we cannot always stop the people who use the hills to get out of Cox’s Bazar,” said another policeman.
“We are doing our best. In addition to the security personnel stationed in the camps, there are quite a few check posts on the road to Cox’s Bazar. You also have to think about our resources. I have only 750 personnel to look after more than a million Rohingyas,” said AMB Masud Hossain, superintendent of Police of Cox’s Bazar.
The Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner based in Cox’s Bazar also mentioned a lack of manpower, saying: “We are putting in all-out efforts with our limited human resources.”
When his attention was drawn to the incident of four Rohingyas being detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, he said: “This is a matter of concern. We will maximise our efforts so that Rohingyas are confined to their camps.
“You must admit that this an uphill task, when you have so few people,” he added.
It appears to not be difficult at all for Rohingyas living in different settlements in Cox’s Bazar to leave the temporary camps for other destinations in the country.
The residents are not allowed to leave the settlements without prior permission from the authorities concerned.
In recent visits to different settlements controlled by the government, the Dhaka Tribune found that, the Rohingyas, if they want, can get out of the camps with the help of some locals and by “managing” the police personnel in charge.
Locals of Ukhiya and Teknaf, as well residents of Cox’s Bazar town, believe that Rohingyas are spreading across the country, and this is going to create a big problem for the nation.
With time, the situation will get worse if the “free movement” can not be brought under control, they added.
When contacted by this correspondent, officials concerned, including police, said they are doing their best with a “limited workforce.”
Also Read- Over 100 Rohingyas held across country in four months
“We often see that Rohingya people come to our localities to work as day labourers, and are employed by Bangladeshis because the cost of their services is much lower than local labourers,” said Mohammad Islam, a resident of Court Bazar, Ukhiya.
"They manage to get out of the camp by paying the on-duty police some money,” he said.
“The Rohingyas have already spread across Cox’s Bazar, and soon they will spread across the country,” said Rashed Ahmed, a student.
Rohingyas are occasionally found near Chittagong city, which is roughly 175km away from the Rohingya settlements.
“Sometimes, we find Rohingyas when we check different buses. But, this exercise cannot always find all the people,” said Sub-Inspector Didarul Alam, officer-in-charge of a temporary police check post at Moizzar Tek, a place right before Shah Amanat Bridge of Chittagong.
“Since there are no provision for punishing the Rohingyas, we take them to a designated cell and later send them back to the camps,” he said.
Another policeman said: “We find Rohingyas on the buses we check almost every day.”
“Despite our best efforts, it is true that Rohingyas sometimes get out of the camps without authorisation. With our limited personnel, it is difficult to ensure a fool-proof situation,” said a sub-inspector of Camp-9 at Balukhali.
“We can stop those who use roads, but we cannot always stop the people who use the hills to get out of Cox’s Bazar,” said another policeman.
“We are doing our best. In addition to the security personnel stationed in the camps, there are quite a few check posts on the road to Cox’s Bazar. You also have to think about our resources. I have only 750 personnel to look after more than a million Rohingyas,” said AMB Masud Hossain, superintendent of Police of Cox’s Bazar.
The Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner based in Cox’s Bazar also mentioned a lack of manpower, saying: “We are putting in all-out efforts with our limited human resources.”
When his attention was drawn to the incident of four Rohingyas being detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, he said: “This is a matter of concern. We will maximise our efforts so that Rohingyas are confined to their camps.
“You must admit that this an uphill task, when you have so few people,” he added.
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