As part of a move to protect growing forests around the Island and reduce the refuges’ reliance on firewood, Qatar Charity (QC) has recently supplied cooking gas cylinders to Rohingya refugees on Bhasanchar Island. The QC initiative coming as part of its relief project benefits approximately 22,800 individuals, enhancing their living conditions and ensuring access to a safe and reliable cooking fuel source. This project also aims to enhance the quality of life for Rohingya refugees by promoting safe cooking practices. Many refugees previously relied on firewood, which not only posed safety risks but was also difficult to collect and harmful to the environment. Samiya, a refugee mother of three, expressed her gratitude for the cooking gas cylinder. "Before receiving this assistance, cooking was a struggle. We had to collect firewood, which was not only dangerous but also time-consuming," she said.  "Now, I can prepare meals quickly and safely for my children. This support has greatly improved our daily lives," she added. Samiya expressed regret over the deforestation and destruction of the island’s forests, acknowledging that they had no other choice to secure food. "Now, we don’t have to damage the forest anymore. I hope this project continues for as long as we remain here," she remarked. Hossain Ahmed, a 39-year-old refugee, expressed his appreciation for the positive impact of cooking gas. "Having cooking gas allows us to prepare a variety of meals, which brings joy to our daily routine," he remarked. "This assistance from Qatar Charity means a lot to us; it gives us hope and helps us feel more settled in our new environment."

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Thursday visited Bhasanchar to see the Rohingya camp and Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) station on the island in Noakhali district. Media officer of the Coast Guard Headquarters here Lt. Commander Khandaker Munif Taqi said the home minister planted trees on the island and observed various activities of BCG. Senior Secretary of Public Security division under the home Ministry Md. Akhtar Hossain, Secretary of Security Services Division Md. Abdullah Al Masood Chowdhury, BGB Director General Major General Sakil Ahmed and Bangladesh Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Ashraful Haque Chowdhury accompanied the minister. Also read: Seven Rohingyas detained while trying to escape Bhasan Char Senior officials of Bangladesh Coast Guard were also present, the officer said. Bhasan Char, also known as Char Piya, is an island in Hatiya Upazila in Noakhali district. Until 2019 it was known as Thengar Char. It is located in the Bay of Bengal, about 6 kilometres from Sandwip island and 37 miles from the mainland. In late 2020, the government began relocating Rohingya refugees from the Cox’s Bazar camps Bhasan Char. The Government had decided to relocate a total of 100,000 refugees in phases. As of April this year, 30,000, refugees have been taken to the island. Also read: 18 Rohingyas fleeing from Bhasanchar arrested in Mirsarai Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them fled to this country since August 25, 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive targeting the Muslim ethnic minorities.

Police arrested 18 Rohingyas from Mirsarai Economic Zone on Friday after they fled from Noakhali’s Bhasanchar refugee camp. The arrestees include 8 women and 6 children. Md Habib, an in-charge of Mirsarai industrial area police camp, said they arrested the Rohingyas from the economic zone’s Super Dike area on Friday afternoon when they were heading towards Ukhiya’s Kutupalong refugee camp from the Bhasanchar.   He said the Rohingyas fled from Bhasanchar in collaboration with brokers and came to Mirsarai by boat. The arrestees were handed over to Jorarganj police station, he added.      

Police have arrested 19 Rohingyas at coast of Fauzdarhat in Sitakunda upazila after they fled from Noakhali’s Bhasanchar refugee camp. At around 11 am on Wednesday the locals detained 21 Rohingyas after they arrived at the Fauzdarhat coast of Ward No. 1 of Salimpur Union in a boat. Later, they handed over 19 of them to the police as two youths managed to escape. Among the arrestees were eight children, four women and seven men. Mostakim Arju, a local UP member, said, "When I heard that 21 children, women and men had come to the shores of Faujdarhat, I rushed to the spot, held them and informed the chairman." Although there were 21 people in the boat, two youths escaped, he said. One of the arrestees, Abdul Habib, said that the group of 21 people on Sunday started from Bhasanchar on a rented boat for Tk 13,000 per person. They arrived ashore in Fauzdarhat after a four-day long journey in the sea The boatman quickly left with the boat as soon as the passengers got off, he added. Habib further said, “We are having a hard time in Bhasanchar so we wanted to go to our previous place in Cox’s Bazar.” ASI Zahirul Islam of Fauzdarhat police outpost said that on receiving information from local UP chairman Salauddin Aziz, we arrested 19 Rohingyas from the coast of Fauzdarhat and brought them to the outpost. They would soon be handed over to the local police station, he said.

The UN refugee agency has said it remains in contact with the Rohingya communities both on Bhasan Char and in Cox's Bazar in an attempt to support the authorities in further rescue efforts following Saturday’s boat capsize in the Bay of Bengal. On the morning of 14 August, UNHCR was alerted that a boat carrying dozens of Rohingyas had capsized close to Bhasan Char island overnight. "We are devastated that reportedly many passengers, including women and children, have tragically drowned. The confirmed number is not yet known," said the UN agency. Also read: Vaccination: UNHCR lauds Bangladesh for inclusion of Rohingyas UNHCR said they are grateful to local Bangladeshi fishermen who were first on the scene and alerted Bangladeshi authorities.  The search and rescue operation is being led by the authorities, notably the Bangladesh Navy and the Coast Guard. "We are seeking further information from the Government of Bangladesh at this time," said the UNHCR. Also read: Refugee Policy Review done by UNHCR following its framework

Twenty Rohingyas who had fled Bhasanchar in Noakhali were arrested in Jorarganj area of Mirsarai upazila in Chattogram  on Saturday . Among the arrestees, 11 were children, five women and four men. The arrestees are Md Abdur Rahman, 27, Setara Begum, 20, Md Sabbir 26, Sanchita begum, Rajiya Begum, 23, Nurul Karim, 20, Salma Khatun, 50, Jamal Hossain, 24, Nur Kayda, 25, Rumana, 6, Nur Fatema, 3, Md Ayaz,8, Jannat Ara, 4, Kismat Ara Begum, 2, Mariam, 8, Abul Kashem,7, Md Ayat, 4, Setara, 5, Jannat Ara,1, and Osman Gani aged eight months. Also read: 31 Rohingyas held in Chattogram Officer-in-Charge of Jorarganj police station Helal Uddin said tipped off, police arrested the Rohingyas and produced them before a court after filing a case. Investigation is going on to find out who had helped them to flee, said the OC. Meanwhile, locals said they informed police when a boat carrying a group of Rohingyas reached the coast adjacent  to  Mirsarai Economic Zone area. Also read: Seven Rohingyas held along Benapole border The Rohingyas were travelling towards Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Teknaf, they said.

Information Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud has said the political patronage of certain parties is behind the occasional mischief attempted by fundamentalist forces in the country.

The Army,  Navy and Air Force, led by the Armed Forces Division (AFD), have made overall preparations to deal with the aftermath of extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’.

Police recovered the body of an engineer from the Dhaleshwari River in Munshiganj’s Sirajdikhan upazila on Friday noon.