Arakan News Agency
Bangladesh has started demolishing illegal Rohingya settlements in forests surrounding the southeastern tourist city of Cox’s Bazar, officials said yesterday.…
“We began the drive on June 4 when we demolished 51 dwellings illegally set up by Rohingyas and would continue the eviction and demolition of illegal structures scattered in the forest,” Cox’s Bazar south forest division chief Ali Kabir told newsmen.
The forest department officials said they had conducted the drive at Madhuchhara in Ukhia sub-district on the recommendation of an intelligence agency.
More than 400 personnel from police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and district administration joined the drive to demolish settlements built reportedly by non-government organisation – Muslim Aid – for Rohingyas, said the officials.
Ali Kabir said, “We do not want to let the people know where and when the next drive will be conducted but it will be conducted with the help of other agencies.”
Mohammad Obaidur Rahman, country director of Muslim Aid UK in Bangladesh, however, said that they had not built any settlements in Madhuchhara area and they had stopped all activities in Cox’s Bazar district since January this year.
The Rohingyas, however, said they got the shelters in Madhuchhara Lambasiya with assistance of Rajapalong union council chairman Jahangir Kabir Chowdhury.
Nazrul Islam, a Rohingya day labourer, said he had lived in the settlement for two months but the sudden drive left him homeless.
“I have nowhere to go,” said Nazrul, who was born in Bangladesh
with Rohingya ethnicity.
After being evicted, he has taken shelter at a relative’s house in Kutupalang.
Locals said the chairman verified the list of Rohingyas and allowed them to be settled there.
But, Jahangir Kabir, also a ruling Awami League leader, denied his involvement in setting up the settlement.
He also said, “I have no idea about the eviction.’
Source : gulf-times
