ROHINGYA CRISIS

Headcount of new arrivals on cards

The government is planning to conduct a census on Myanmar Rohingyas who had to cross into Bangladesh to escape the atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar security forces since October, last year. A plan is also under contemplation of the government to provide basic needs of the undocumented Rohingyas, especially the new arrivals. Nearly 70,000 Rohingyas are believed to have crossed into Bangladesh since October 9, last year to join another few lakhs, who have been residing in Bangladesh for decades. A meeting of a 30-member taskforce, constituted following the approval of the national strategy paper on registered Rohingya refugees and undocumented ones on September 9, 2013, held its 12th meeting at the foreign ministry yesterday. Representatives of different ministries, divisions, law enforcing, security and intelligence agencies participated in the meeting headed by Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque. The task of the taskforce is to formu late plans and take necessary measures to implement the national strategy paper.
The meeting discussed the issue relating to the newly-arrived Rohingyas and asked the Bureau of Statistics to come up with a plan to headcount the new arrivals, meeting sources told The Independent.
Earlier, they said that the cabinet endorsed the headcount of the newly-arrived Rohinyas.
The meeting also discussed the ways and means to provide basic needs to the new arrivals along with those who have been living in the country for decades, said the sources.
The meeting also took stalk of previous 11 meetings of the taskforce, they added.
“The objective of the meeting was to take stalk of the issue for better coordination between the agencies with regard to Rohingyas until they are relocated to Thengar Char,” said a senior government official.
About the reason behind the headcount of the new arrivals, he said, “It will allow us to manage them in a better way. Besides, we are obligated to implement the cabinet’s decision. ”
“Head counting of Rohingyas is nothing new. The Bureau of Statistics earlier carried out a survey of the undocumented Rohingyas,” said the official, adding, “As long as they are here we have to meet their basic needs. And, we are looking after the undocumented Rohingyas to the best of our ability. In today’s meeting, we discussed as to how this can be done effectively.” The result of the census earlier conducted by the Bureau of Statistics on undocumented Rohingyas has not yet been officially published. But, it has been learnt from different sources that the census had counted about 2.3 lakh undocumented Rohingyas in the country and the number is much lower than the popular perception that 3-5 lakh undocumented Rohingyas are residing in Bangladesh.

ROHINGYA CRISIS

Headcount of new arrivals on cards

The government is planning to conduct a census on Myanmar Rohingyas who had to cross into Bangladesh to escape the atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar security forces since October, last year. A plan is also under contemplation of the government to provide basic needs of the undocumented Rohingyas, especially the new arrivals. Nearly 70,000 Rohingyas are believed to have crossed into Bangladesh since October 9, last year to join another few lakhs, who have been residing in Bangladesh for decades. A meeting of a 30-member taskforce, constituted following the approval of the national strategy paper on registered Rohingya refugees and undocumented ones on September 9, 2013, held its 12th meeting at the foreign ministry yesterday. Representatives of different ministries, divisions, law enforcing, security and intelligence agencies participated in the meeting headed by Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque. The task of the taskforce is to formu late plans and take necessary measures to implement the national strategy paper. The meeting discussed the issue relating to the newly-arrived Rohingyas and asked the Bureau of Statistics to come up with a plan to headcount the new arrivals, meeting sources told The Independent. Earlier, they said that the cabinet endorsed the headcount of the newly-arrived Rohinyas. The meeting also discussed the ways and means to provide basic needs to the new arrivals along with those who have been living in the country for decades, said the sources. The meeting also took stalk of previous 11 meetings of the taskforce, they added. The objective of the meeting was to take stalk of the issue for better coordination between the agencies with regard to Rohingyas until they are relocated to Thengar Char, said a senior government official. About the reason behind the headcount of the new arrivals, he said, It will allow us to manage them in a better way. Besides, we are obligated to implement the cabinets decision. Head counting of Rohingyas is nothing new. The Bureau of Statistics earlier carried out a survey of the undocumented Rohingyas, said the official, adding, As long as they are here we have to meet their basic needs. And, we are looking after the undocumented Rohingyas to the best of our ability. In todays meeting, we discussed as to how this can be done effectively. The result of the census earlier conducted by the Bureau of Statistics on undocumented Rohingyas has not yet been officially published. But, it has been learnt from different sources that the census had counted about 2.3 lakh undocumented Rohingyas in the country and the number is much lower than the popular perception that 3-5 lakh undocumented Rohingyas are residing in Bangladesh.