The government will beef up security measures in and around Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar to avoid any untoward incident ahead of the national elections.
More than 1.1 million Rohingyas are living in over 20 settlements in the southeastern district.
The decision came on Thursday (Nov 22) during a meeting of the ‘National Taskforce on Undocumented Myanmar Nationals’ at the foreign ministry.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque presided over the meeting while officials from the home and disaster ministries, representatives from the law enforcing and intelligence agencies, field officials including Refugee, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Abul Kalam attended the meeting.
“The law enforcing agencies will look into the issue and we will deploy additional force around the camps so that nobody can get in or go out on Dec 30,” RRRC Kalam told Bangla Tribune.
Voting in the 11th Parliamentary Election is slated for Dec 30.
There is a possibility that the Rohingyas might be used in campaign or other purposes during the election but, the government is determined to stop any such attempt, he said.
About interviewing of the 485 Rohingya families, who were on the list of repatriation, he said, “We have reviewed the process and it will start in due time.”
Bangladesh is committed to send Rohingyas on voluntary basis and the whole world has seen that the country kept its words, he added.
The UNHRC has already interviewed of 67 out of 485 families and none of them agreed to go back to Myanmar.
Another official seeking anonymity said, when the interview process will begin, government officials will also be present along with UNHRC members.
“Last time, the UNHRC interviewed them but we feel that it is necessary to have government representation to know their feelings and what information they provide during the interviews,” he said.