The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) one-stop service centre for the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar.  Irma van Dueren, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, Acting Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, and Md Shamsud Douza, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner inaugurated the facility.    The inauguration ceremony also featured a guided tour of the facility, cultural performances led by Rohingya artisans, and the award of certificates to the refugees who have completed psychosocial and protection skills development programmes.  An innovation in refugee care, this centre is designed to address the urgent mental health, psychosocial, protection service and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) needs of the Rohingya refugees, offering an integrated approach to service delivery. The centre combines multiple essential services under one roof, making it easier for refugees to access the support they need without the burden of visiting multiple facilities, said a press release. The centre’s holistic model is designed to enhance the well-being and resilience of the community by providing private counselling rooms for mental health sessions, safe spaces for child-friendly services and socio-relational activities, SRH services including family planning, menstrual regulation, and adolescent health education, and protection services for survivors of Gender-based Violence (GBV). In addition, the centre also hosts a mini-Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre (RCMC). This portion includes guided tours, cultural events, master classes, arts and crafts by skilled Rohingya artisans, and storytelling sessions to preserve and celebrate Rohingya culture. Dhaka seeks IOM’s role in protecting rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers The facility also includes a multipurpose space for community meetings, workshops and activities that engage the refugees and promote participation in mental health and psychosocial support programmes. An important feature of the centre is ‘Shanti Barir Bagan’, a community garden that fosters mental health and well-being through engagement in gardening activities. “The Government of the Netherlands has Mental Health and Psychosocial Support as a priority within its humanitarian interventions. The One Stop Service Centre realised by IOM for Rohingya refugees Camp 20 Extension supported by the Government of the Netherlands and others, is a good example of the integrated approach needed for MHPSS,” Ambassador Irma van Dueren said.   “Many more of these centres are needed for the Rohingya Refugee population. I want to thank the IOM team and the Government of Bangladesh for this impressive achievement.”   “Marking an important milestone in enhancing the well-being and resilience of refugees in the camps, this centre is a testament of IOM’s commitment to supporting the mental health, protection and preservation of Rohingya cultural heritage of the Rohingya refugees,” Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, Acting Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, said. The Netherlands partially funded the construction and provision of continued integrated MHPSS, protection and sexual reproductive health (SRH) services at this one-stop service centre, along with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia, the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Japan, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State, World Bank and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed 18,566 more houses  among the homeless and landless families across the country under Ashrayan-2 project on Tuesday (June 11, 2024), five days before the Eid-ul Azha. She opened the distribution of the houses alongwith ownership documents through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban, connecting to Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat, Eidgaon upazila of Cox’s Bazar, and Char Fashion upazila of Bhola. Besides, the PM declared 70 more upazilas, including all upazilas of 26 districts, free from landlessness and homelessness people. With this declaration, the total number of landless and homeless-free districts has reached 58 and the number of landless and homeless-free Upazilas has gone up to 464 across the country. The houses were constructed under the government’s flagship housing programme, Ashrayan-2 Project, aiming to ensure housing for all. PM Hasina's Ashrayan project to set another milestone Tuesday On Tuesday, the prime minister distributed 1,282 houses in Lalmonirhat, 261 in Cox’s Bazar, and 1,234 in Bhola districts. Earlier, the prime minister distributed 63,999 houses in the first phase, 53,330 in the second phase, 59,133 in the third phase, and 39,365 in the fourth phase of the Ashrayan-2 Project across the country. Under the project, each landless and homeless family is provided with a semi-pucca house on two decimals of land, with ownership jointly granted to both husband and wife. Each house consists of two bedrooms, a kitchen, a toilet, and a veranda. The rehabilitation programme for homeless people was initially introduced by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1972. Following that PM Hasina initiated the Ashrayan project in 1997 to provide ownership of houses and lands to homeless and landless people. Since its inception, the Ashrayan project has rehabilitated a total of 771,301 families, benefiting an estimated 3,856,505 individuals. Across all programmes, 4,340,000 people from 867,904 families have been rehabilitated, including 2,910,265 people from 582,053 families under the Ashrayan Project. Read more: Ashrayan project: PM Hasina to provide free houses, lands to 18,566 families

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman on Saturday (May 25, 2024) said cyclonic storm 'Remal' is projected to make landfall in the coastal regions of Satkhira in Khulna and Cox’s Bazar in Chattogram by Sunday evening. Almost 4,000 shelter centres have been prepared in the coastal districts,  equipped with adequate dry food, he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the Secretariat. Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) may issue  great danger signal number 10 between 12 am Saturday to 1 am Sunday, said the minister. As Cyclone Remal approaches, tension grips Bagerhat’s coastal areas Currently, the maritime ports have been asked to maintain local cautionary signal no one and No 3 signal will be issued within a few hours, he said. 80,000 volunteers are ready to tackle the situation and all necessary preparations have been taken, said Mohibur Rahman. Cyclone Michaung: Tourist ship operations suspended on Teknaf-St Martin's Island route The State Minister also warned that parts of Satkhira and Cox’s Bazar could be significantly impacted by the cyclonic storm, with a potential 7-10 feet high tidal surge, heavy rainfall, and landslides in the hilly areas of Chattogram.

Training on 'Quality control, quality assurance system and lab test procedures for salt iodization' for the officials of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is going at Cox`s Bazar. The training started on Friday (February 16, 2024) will end on Tuesday in two phrases. Read more: Industries Minister invites SMEs to invest in BSCIC facilities This training was jointly organized by Salt cell, BSCIC and Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). Chairman of Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik inaugurated the training. Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan director of IFST, BCSIR presided over this training while Akil Ranjan Tarofder, GM of Extension division in BSCIC, Sarawor Hossain AGM of Extension division and Head of Salt Cell, BSCIC and , officials of IFST, BCSIR and Nutrition International were present. Read more: 12 types of salt used in cooking, baking and seasoning

A delegation from Myanmar, led by Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe, arrived at the Naval jetty ghat in Inani, Cox’s Bazar district, on Thursday (February 15, 2024), aboard a speedboat at 9:50 am, to repatriate 330 members of the Myanmar security forces and others who had sought refuge in Bangladesh.  The group had crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing clashes between the Myanmar military and armed rebel groups. Read: 330 BGP members, others to be handed over to Myanmar authorities Thursday: BGB  The repatriation, supervised by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), involves individuals including members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP). The process was earlier confirmed by BGB's public relations officer, Shariful Islam, who also noted that the transfer involved six buses transporting the individuals from Nhila and Ghumdum points to Inani earlier that day. Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, had previously indicated that the repatriation of these individuals was imminent, amidst ongoing border tensions and skirmishes in the Bandarban's Naikhongchhari area. In light of the conflict, the BGB and Coast Guard have ramped up surveillance efforts to prevent further crossings. This border tension has led to casualties on the Bangladeshi side, including the deaths of a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man due to mortar shell impacts from Myanmar. An unidentified body was also found on February 8 in the Rahmaterbil border area of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, as reported by Md Shamim Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Police Station. Read: DMP forms 'quick response team' to ease movements of SSC examinees   Additionally, on February 9, BGB personnel detained 23 Rohingyas with 12 firearms and 868 rounds of ammunition as they attempted to cross into Bangladesh. A case was subsequently filed under the Arms Act at Ukhiya police station, with a court ordering a 3-day remand for each individual involved.

In a statement during his visit to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar today (February 07, 2024), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, newly appointed Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), declared the force’s high alert status to address any potential border-related incidents. During the visit, Major General Siddiqui underscores the BGB’s commitment to maintaining security and sovereignty while adhering to humanitarian principles and fostering positive international relations. “The border situation is fully under control, and we are dedicated to managing it with patience, humanitarian considerations, and in a manner that respects our international obligations, as directed by the Prime Minister. Under no circumstances will illegal entry into Bangladesh be permitted,” Major General Siddiqui emphasized. His remarks came during a thorough inspection of the border outposts at Tambru and Ghumdum areas within the Naikhongchhari upazila. This tour included assessments of the operational conditions and morale among BGB personnel stationed along this critical frontier. No more Rohingyas to be allowed in: New BGB Chief Major General Siddiqui’s directive to the border guards highlighted the importance of professionalism and vigilance in safeguarding the border against any arising challenges. Furthermore, the BGB Director General took a moment to inquire about the welfare of Myanmar security forces and army personnel who have sought refuge in Bangladesh during the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar. To date, Bangladesh has provided asylum to 264 members of the Myanmar forces, including Border Guard Police (BGP), army personnel, and immigration officials, amidst ongoing clashes with the Arakan Army. The BGB has responsibly disarmed the asylum-seeking Myanmar forces, ensuring their safety and security within Bangladesh’s borders. This series of actions by the BGB and its leadership reflects Bangladesh’s balanced approach to border security, combining strict enforcement with a compassionate response to regional instability and humanitarian needs. Police working with BGB to ensure security at Bangladesh-Myanmar border: IGP

In response to the recent fire in one of the refugee camps, hosting nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, the European Union has released €300 000 to assist the affected population. The incident left over 5 000 people without shelter. The funding will serve to provide immediate emergency assistance to address the most urgent needs, notably in terms of shelter, water and site development, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday. It will be implemented by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and complement efforts of other humanitarian partners. Read: Rohingya youth murdered over camp dominance in Cox’s Bazar  In the early hours of 7 January, a large fire broke out in one of the most congested camps, Camp 5, where it quickly spread. Close to 950 shelters burned down or were partially destroyed. The fire also damaged communal facilities, including one health centre, 15 learning centres, as well as numerous latrines and washrooms. Despite the extensive damage, no casualties have been reported so far, thanks to the rapid intervention of the fire brigade with the essential help of Rohingya community volunteers. Since fires are frequent in the congested camps, EU-funded disaster preparedness programmes have helped humanitarian partners strengthen camp structures and better prepare for such risks. Read: A fire in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh guts more than 1,000 shelters  This new funding comes in addition to the over €38 million provided by the EU last year in humanitarian aid to Bangladesh, notably in response to the Rohingya refugee crisis, but also to reduce the impact of natural hazards. Last March, when another devastating fire caused substantial damage in Cox’s Bazar camps, the EU released €1 million to assist the affected refugees. 

A man died after being crushed under the wheels of a train on his way home after casting vote in the 12th parliamentary election  Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Sunday.  The deceased was identified as Mohammad Ali of Ramu upazila. Newlywed man stabbed dead by younger brother in Cox’s Bazar Ramu Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Taher Dewan confirmed the matter, saying that the man met the tragic end when he was returning  home from a polling centre after casting vote as he was crushed under the wheels of Chattogram-bound ‘Cox’s Bazar Express’ train. WFP to increase food ration from US$8 to US$10 for all Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar The accident happened just a few yards off the Ramu Railway Station, he added.  4 dead as bus, laguna collide in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria

An eye-catching railway station built in the shape of an oyster stands just three kilometers away from Cox’s Bazar sea beach, which is expected to become also a recreation destination. The impressive station was also unveiled Saturday (November 11, 2023) as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the much-awaited 102-kilometre Chattogram-Cox's Bazar dual-gauge single railway line aiming to link the country’s tourist hub with the port city through the railway connectivity as well. The railway station was constructed on a 29-acre land in Hazipara area of Jhilong Union nearby Cox’s Bazar town. The modern facilities are available in the 182,000-sq feet railway station where a six-storey building and a large oyster fountain were constructed. Test run of train on Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route likely on October 15 Some 90,000 passengers are expected to use the iconic station a day. In the station, there are three large spaces for car parking. The modern facilities which are available in the station include ticket counters and reception centres, shopping mall, restaurants, luggage lockers, child care center, mosque, escalators, ATM booths, residential hotel, post office and tourist information booth. The luggage locker in the tourist town is an attractive feature as anyone can visit the sea beach or other tourist spots for a day, leaving goods in the station. In another first, PM Hasina opens Ctg-Cox's Bazar railway line Besides, the station is friendly to elderly and disabled persons. It was constructed at a cost of Tk 215 crore. Alongside the station, the 102-km rail Chattogram (Dohazari)-Cox’s Bazar rail route has eight other stations at Satkania, Lohagara, Chokoria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Ukhiya, and Gumdum. These stations have fully computer-based interlocking signal systems and a fully digitalised telecommunications network. Cox's Bazar wears festive look ahead of PM’s visit on Saturday In the future, the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar railway line will be connected with the under-construction Matarbari deep sea port. On April 3 in 2011, Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway, a priority project of her government.

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower the cautionary signal raised due to Cyclone Hamoon. Read : 1 dies as Cyclone Hamoon batters Cox's Bazar, Chattogram Squally weather is unlikely over the maritime ports, north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, said a latest bulletin of the Met office. Read : Body recovered from Marine Drive road in Cox's Bazar All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and adjoining  area have been advised to proceed with caution till this evening. Read : Railway Minister to inspect Dohazari-Cox's Bazar line before inauguration The cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’, over northeast Bay and adjoining area, moved northwestward and crossed the coast at 1 am today, weakening into a land deep depression near Satkania in Chattogram, said a latest bulletin of the Met office.