2024-04-06 18:25:10
Sasakawa Yohei, the chairman of Japan-based donor organization Nippon Foundation, emphasized the importance of fisheries and skill development of Rohingya youth to improve the quality of life of the Rohingya community in Bhasanchar. At this time, the former advisor to the caretaker government and the chairperson of BRAC. Hossain Zillur Rahman and representatives of both organizations were present.
On Saturday (April 6), the delegation arrived in Bhasanchar on a one-day visit to know the real situation of Rohingyas and to see the activities of BRAC. The head of the humanitarian crisis management program (HCMP) of the organization working in BRAC Bhasanchar said. Abu Bakar Siddique and other officials of BRAC welcomed them. At this time, the government welcomed the camp in charge. Rafiqul Haque, assistant camp in charge. Maksudur Rahman, Navy Commanding Officer M Anwarul Kabir and police officials.
The delegation was attended by Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa, Senior Project Director Arikawa Takashi, Senior Officer and Executive Photographer Suzuki Natsuko, Secretary to Chairman Nakayasu Shota, Senior Project Coordinator Franz Ken Kuribayashi and Executive Interpreter Masida Kimyu.
On behalf of BRAC was present – BRAC Chairperson Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, senior director of the organization’s Humanitarian Crisis Management Program (HCMP). Md. Akramul Islam, Director of Global Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Mafruza Khan, Program Head of BRAC Vasanchar. Abu Bakar Siddique, Program Manager of Advocacy for Social Change Amit Das and officials from various sectors of BRAC working in Bhasanchar.
They are WASH Sector Laboratory at Cluster 40 of BRAC Bhasanchar, Healthcare Center at Cluster 57, Commercial Fish Farming Process at Circular Lake, Livelihood Initiatives of BRAC at Cluster 76 and Livelihood and Skill Development Program Agriculture, Poultry at Cluster 68. He visited various activities including cattle rearing. During this time they talked to Rohingya men and women and inquired about them. They also interacted with Rohingya farmers and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said that the government is giving special importance to improving the quality of life of the Rohingya community in Bhasanchar. With the support of the government, various development organizations including non-governmental organization BRAC have taken various programs to improve food security and quality of life. This is a practical step. This process needs to be taken forward and the Rohingya community needs to be more involved. Because, Vasanchar has a huge potential for fish and vegetable farming with environmental protection.
Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of Nippon Foundation, said, “Here (in Bhasanchar), we can see in reality that there are many possibilities and opportunities in fish farming. So fishermen have to be very skilled in catching fish. Must have interest in using boats, fishing skills and buying and selling fish especially in fishing. Nippon Foundation and BRAC will work together in this regard. And if the skills of fishermen are developed in this way, they will become skilled citizens even if they return to Myanmar. He appreciated the various works of BRAC in education, health, WASH, child protection, livelihood and skill development programmes.
Note that with the support of the government and the financial support of UNICEF and BRAC US, BRAC is implementing the teaching program of about 6 thousand Rohingya students through 18 schools in 38 clusters in Vasan Char. At the same time, around 21 thousand 114 Rohingyas are conducting clean water, sewage disposal and sanitation (WASH) activities in 37 clusters under the WASH sector. Apart from this, under the Livelihood and Skill Development (FSL) sector, around 798 families are being assisted in commercial vegetable production and 4200 families in home garden vegetable cultivation. 13 thousand 950 people have been involved directly and indirectly in these works so far. In addition to increasing the monthly income of the Rohingya people, their lifestyle has improved overall. Apart from this, BRAC has planted 29 thousand 500 trees of various types including coconut, betel nut, guava, sajne, which is playing an important role in environmental protection.
Bhasanchar is a 40 square kilometer island under Hatia Upazila of Bangladesh, located in the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from mainland Chittagong. As part of the government’s Asharyan-3 project, Bhasanchar began relocating Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar in December 2020. As of 29 February 2024, 8,222 Rohingya families (35,26 individuals) are living on the island.