Cox's Bazar
Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
More than 12,000 refugees have been affected, while an estimated 2,500 shelters have been damaged or destroyed by heavy downpours, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said.
In the last 24 hours alone, over 300mm of rain fell on camps hosting more than 8 lakh Rohingya refugees – nearly half the monthly rainfall average for July in one day.
Three days of heavy monsoon rains and strong winds pelted massive refugee sites in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar Tuesday, causing flash floods and landslides; the situation is further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UNHCR said.
More rains are expected in the next few days, with the monsoon season stretching over the next three months, the UN agency added.
Read: Landslide kills 5 at Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp
There is currently a strict national lockdown in response to rising cases across the country.
In support of the government-led response, the UNHCR's network of emergency response teams have been deployed, to provide immediate support and assistance to affected families and to those forced to temporarily relocate.
Teams are also assessing the damage to shelters and initiating immediate shelter repairs and site improvements.
Refugee volunteers trained by the UNHCR, and partners are also working day and night in heavy rain to help families in urgent need. In some cases, this has involved rescuing refugees from shelters destroyed by landslides.
Read: Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary
So far, more than 5,000 refugees have temporarily relocated to other family member's shelters or communal facilities.
The adverse weather, latest landslides and floods further exacerbate the suffering and massive humanitarian needs of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
To date, the 2021 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh has received only $274 million, roughly 30% of the $943 million required for the response this year.
‘Top terrorist’ killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’
A suspected top terroriswas killed in a ‘gunfight’ with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members in Cox’s Bazar municipality area Saturday early morning.
The deceased was identified as Ashraf Ali alias Ashu Ali, 25. He was wanted in 12 cases including of murder.
Wing Commander of Rab-15 Ajim Ahmed said Ashu Ali was shot dead during a gunfight with Rab members in Shahittika Palli area of city’s ward-6.
Also read: 2 killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfights’
In the last three years at least five people were killed by Ashu Ali, Rab sources said.
Locals said he and his gang Ashu Bahini established a reign of terror at Shahittika Palli and Samiti Bazar area was dominated.
In 2019 when leader of the gang Amir Khan was killed in a gunfight with police, Ashu Ali became the head of the gang, they said.
Also read: 2 killed, 10 injured in Cox's Bazar gunfight
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Tahsan visits Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador Tahsan Khan Sunday visited Cox's Bazar and met with Rohingyas to learn about their experiences on World Refugee Day.
The theme of this year's World Refugee Day is "together we heal, learn and shine." During Tahsan's visit to the Rohingya camps, he also met with Rohingya musicians and filmmakers and performed a song with them.
"These young filmmakers from Omar's Film School and these talented Rohingya musicians are doing incredible work to shine a light on the Rohingya culture and heritage through music, photography and film. They are also working tirelessly to raise awareness about Covid-19 and other health messages," said Tahsan.
Also read: Bhasan Char much better than Cox’s Bazar camps: UNHCR
2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps
Two Rohingyas were killed on Saturday in landslides following heavy rainfall in Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.
The deceased have been identified as Rahim Ullah, 35, and Nur Hasina, 20.
The fatal incidents took place at Mainarghona camp in Ukhiya’s Balukhali union and at Chakmarkul camp in Teknaf’s Hoaikong union.
Also read: Lockdown extended in Rohingya camps, Teknaf upazila
The captain of the 14th Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Superintendent of Police MD Shihab Kayser confirmed the news to UNB.
“Rahim Ullah died in the landslide at around 10:30 am in the morning while he was cutting soil. Upon receiving the news a team of APBn recovered the dead body and handed it over to the concerned authorities,” Kayser said.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: 25 villages flooded in Hatia, Bhasan Char Rohingya camps not affected
“The house of Nur Hasina was demolished due to a landslide at around 2pm. APBn rescued Hasina and rushed her to a local medical facility where the on-duty doctor declared her dead,” said 16th APBn Additional Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam.
The dead bodies were handed over to police, who sent them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, reported our local correspondent citing APBn sources.
2 killed, 10 injured in Cox's Bazar gunfight
Two people were killed and 10 others injured in a gunfight at Rumaliarchhara Shikder Bazar in Cox'sBazar on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Shahed, 28, son of Mujibul Islam of Tekpara area of the district and Raihanul Islam, 25, chief of Raihan group and son of Nurul Alam of Bacha Mia Ghona area.
Also read: Sahinuddin murder accused killed in gunfight with RAB in Mirpur
A clash ensued between two groups of terrorists, one led by Raihan group and another by Ashu Ali group, over establishing supremacy at Rumaliarchhara Shikder Bazar at 6:30 pm.
The two groups exchanged gunfire during the clash, leaving the two dead on the spot.
On information, a team of police from Cox's Bazar Sadar Police Station brought the situation under control.
Also read: 3 Rohingya 'bandits' killed in 'gunfight' with RAB Teknaf
Cox's Bazar sadar police outpost in-charge Inspector Anwar Hossain said the miscreants fled the scene as police reached the spot.
The bodies of the two were sent to the District Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal No 3
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three as the cyclonic storm “Yaas” weakened into a deep depression over north Odisha and adjoining Jharkhand area on Thursday morning.
It is likely to move north-north-westwards further and weaken gradually, said a Met Office bulletin.
The bulletin said a steep pressure gradient persists over north bay and coastal areas of Bangladesh. The Sea will remain rough.
Read: Cyclone Yaas impact: 27 upazilas affected by storm surge
Under its influence, Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram districts and their offshore islands, and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 50-60 kph in gusts or squalls.
The low-lying areas of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram districts are likely to be inundated by 02-04 feet height above normal astronomical tide under the influence of steep pressure gradient and the full moon phase.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.
Rohingya response: Cox's Bazar NGOs for transparency, localisation
Local NGOs working in Cox's Bazar sought transparency and localisation of Rohingya response management ahead of the launching of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2021 on May 18.
The $943 million plan brings together the efforts of the government of Bangladesh, and 134 UN agencies and NGO partners, targeting 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox's Bazar, the UN said Friday.
However, opinions of the locals had little reflection in the document prepared by UN agencies, Cox's Bazar CSO NGO Forum said Sunday.
Read Bangladesh to demand 10pc of funds for Rohingyas in Bhasan Char: FM
In the last four years, the Inter Sectoral Coordination Group (ISCG) rarely came up with any statistics on how much fund had gone to host communities, how much had been used for local procurement and the number of local staff employed, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, co-chair of the CCNF, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said.
"During the preparation of JRP plan 2021, we provided written comments on behalf of local and national NGO representatives and also organised a virtual webinar on May 5, where lawmakers, local government and UN representatives had participated. But opinions of the locals have little reflection in the document."
"Moreover there is no outline about response management if no repatriation takes place in the next five to 10 years," Rezaul added.
Read EU scales up assistance for fire victims in Cox’s Bazar
He was addressing the conference "Joint Response Plan 2021, Rohingya Response Management and Strategy: Hardly Fit for the Purpose and Futuristic" organised by CCNF.
Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker, chief Executive Mukti Cox's Bazar, said: "The UN agencies prepared the Localization Task Force in 2019 to prepare a localisation road map. The report was finalised and submitted in November 2020, but yet to be published."
Abu Morshed Chowdhury, the co-chair of CCNF, said: "There are three lines of coordination management – ISCG, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner and Office of the Deputy Commissioner – now. But there should be a single line authority for coordination."
Read Congressman Deutch lauds Hasina's role over Rohingya issue
Cox's Bazar falls silent as restrictions on tourists kick in
Tourist spots and recreational centres at Cox's Bazar including the beach, have fallen silent as a result of the closure of all tourist attractions in the face of the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.
No tourists who are already there are allowed to enter the beach. The beach shops were also closed due to lack of tourists.
However, hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants and shopping malls have been kept open on the condition of complying with hygiene rules. Tourists staying in Cox's Bazar have also started returning.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner and President of the District Corona Infection Prevention Committee Md. Mamunur Rashid said a directive from the tourism ministry reached the district administration on Thursday (April 1st) regarding closure of tourist spots.
Also read: Tourism suspended in Sundarbans till Apr 15
According to the directive, all tourist spots and entertainment centers including Cox's Bazar beach would be closed till April 14.
The district administration, tourist police and other concerned people would take actions as per the instructions of the government.
Tourists were not allowed to enter the beach after receiving instructions from the ministry, said Mamunur.
Besides, all kinds of tourism related businesses including beach recreation umbrellas (kitkats), beach-bikes and jetskis had been shut down. The patrol of the tourist police had been intensified to keep a watch on the tourist centers including the beaches, concluded the Deputy Commissioner.
Nur Mohammad Rabbi, manager of Seagull Hotel said that advance room bookings at hotel, motels were being canceled due to the ban imposed on tourism.
Also read: Covid 19: Movement of tourist ships on Teknaf-St Martin's route suspended
Assistant Superintendent of Tourist Police Cox's Bazar Zone Chowdhury Mizanuzzaman said no one was allowed to enter the beach. Besides, all the shops near the beach had been closed.
Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Amin Al Parvez said, "A temporary shutdown has been declared to prevent public gatherings. Tourist spots, including the beach, will be reopened if the Corona situation returns to normal."
Earlier on April 1, the Cox's Bazar district administration had announced closure of all recreational centres in the district including the sea beach until April 14.
Moreover, the movement of tourist ships from Cox's Bazar to St.Martin's Island would also remain suspended during this period.
Turkish aid for Rohingyas reaches Chattogram
A Turkish military cargo plane carrying hospital supplies and 13 volunteers arrived in Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport Friday for refugee camps in Cox's Bazar which shelters thousands of Rohingyas.
Wing Commander Farhad Hossain Khan, manager of Shah Amanat International Airport, confirmed this to UNB.
Also read: 3 Rohingyas killed in Ukhiya fire
Earlier, another Turkish military cargo plane carrying hospital supplies and a field hospital landed in Bangladesh following the March 22 deadly blaze in Cox's Bazar.
The fire swept through the Balukhali Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, killing at least 11 people.
Also read: Rohingya camp fire: Death toll climbs to 11
Also, it turned 9,300 shanties, 136 learning centres and a police barrack into ashes and displaced more than 45,000 people.
Aid agencies and the government had started rebuilding shelters after the large scale fire ripped through the camp last month.
3 Rohingyas killed in Ukhiya fire
At least three Rohingyas were killed Friday as a fire – the second in less than two weeks – broke out in the makeshift Kutupalong Bazar near a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar.
The fire started in a market store and quickly spread to seven nearby shops in the early hours when residents of the sprawling Kutupalong camp were asleep.
The deceased – Ansar Ullah, 20, Faridul Islam, 25, and Ayas, 22 – used to work in a shop in the market.
They died on the spot as the fire gutted seven clothing stores and damaged 10 to 12 other shops, Kutupalong Bazar Committee President Md Helal Uddin, also the member of Rajapalong Union Parishad said.
Also read: Rohingya camp fire: Death toll climbs to 11
Md Imdadul Haque, Ukhiya Fire Service Station in-charge, said: "We are suspecting that the fire originated from an electric short circuit around 4:30am in one of the Rohingya shops. It took us several hours to bring the blaze under control."
"Three charred bodies were recovered from the spot after we put out the fire," Imdadul said.
On March 22, a massive fire tore through the Balukhali Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya, killing 11 people.
Also read: Rohingya camp fire: Humanitarian community calls for compassion
The fire turned 9,300 shanties, 136 learning centres and a police barrack into ashes, displaced more than 45,000 people.
Aid agencies and the government had started rebuilding shelters after the large scale fire ripped through the camp last month.