VasanChar, a coastal char (strip of sandy land rising out of a river bed) in Hatiya, Noakhali, is becoming a place for the Rohingya rehabilitation center. The government's top officials and government-private expert team members are visiting that area every day. Along with the Hatiya’s inhabitants, the coastal people fears about Rohingya refugees but the local public representatives and administration officials say there is no panic. If the Rohingyas are rehabilitated in VasanChar, the police, coastguard and naval patrol will increase here.
In this regard, local parliament member (Hatiya) Ayesha Ferdous said, ‘After a counseling, the Rohingyas will be provided with jobs which will lead them to a good conduct. There is nothing to panic. '
To protect VasanChar from the tide, the sandbags are placed at different points of the area. Helipad, platoon and several infrastructures have already built up there. The road is being built for internal transportation.
Monir Uz-Zaman, DIG of Chittagong Range, said, ‘The police, coastguard and navy patrol will increase if Rohingyas are rehabilitated here. Char area and rivers will be safe.
Chittagong divisional commissioner Abdul Mannan said, ‘There are some analysis going on as the place is livable or not and the climate change variables of VasanChar which can cause residential climate change. But these are still in the initial stage.’
Captain Aminul Islam Khan, the Officer-in-Charge of the VasanChar Rohingya Rehabilitation Project, said, "VasanChar will be a modern refugee camp. There will be all facilities including the educational institution, hospital, recreation place and playground. Rohingyas will be brought here in a few steps.
In the first phase, one lakh 20 thousand Rohingya will be rehabilitated here. The Bangladesh Navy wants to start the project faster. "However, he did not mention any specific time when Rohingya could be brought to Vasanachar.