The government will issue 6,000 smart cards to Rohingya orphans, who, along with other people, have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar. The Ministry of Social Welfare will take all responsibilities of the orphans, including their food and lodging. This was stated by the state minister for social welfare, Nuruzzaman Ahmed, at a press meet in the ministry’s conference room yesterday (Tuesday). Nuruzzaman Ahmed said his ministry will be providing the smart cards on the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Some 120 ministry workers have already begun working on this. Measures will be taken to group orphans up to the age of 18 separately,” he added. The Cox’s Bazar district administration would provide 400 acres in Ukhiya and Teknaf for the purpose. Nuruzzaman Ahmed said they are preparing a database of 2,000 Rohingya orphans by using Google forms. It will be completed within a week and then the orphans would be given smart cards, he added. The number of Rohingya orphans is likely to be 5,000 to 6,000. These orphans will be given quality food separately.  Currently, the government is looking after around 33,000 orphans through 132 organisations.   

Nuruzzaman Ahmed will check the rehabilitation activities in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday and brief the media on the overall situation.

Social welfare secretary Zillar Rahman and social welfare department director general Gazi Mohammed Nurul Kabir were present on the occasion.

The Rohingya children have become orphans following atrocities by the Myanmar government and its army. The orphans, along with others, crossed over to Bangladesh after the Myanmar army crackdown began on August 25.