National

Govt mulls sending homeless to Bhashan Char, not Rohingyas: FM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said it is now being thought to send country's homeless people to Bhashan Char in Noakhali to live, instead of Rohingyas.

"No need to accommodate Rongiya people in Bhashan Char, rather homeless people of our country should be sent there. Now I will think about it," said Momen. 

"We don't want to spoil such a beatiful place (Bhashan Char) sending Rohingyas there," the minister told this Jago News in a reaction on Friday after he visited Bhashan Char.

More than 7.50 lakh Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh after Buddhist-majority Myanmar launched military crackdown in Rakhine state on August 25, 2017. A total of around 11.50 lakh Rohingyas have been living in inhuman condition in Cox's Bazar's camps.

Bangladesh government earlier planned to relocate one lakh out of 11.50 lakh Rohingyas to Bhashan Char, and also constructed buildings there for that end. But different international organizations, including UN, have been opposing the governmemt's move.

In another question, Dr Momen said Rohingyas are reluctant to go to Bhashan Char, this not correct, rather they agree to do so but foreign organizations, including UNHCR, disagree.