A Parliamentary panel has seconded an army recommendation for a barbed wire boundary around the Rohingya camps at Cox’s Bazar.
The recommendation was tabled during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence on Wednesday (Sept 4).
According to sources, a report regarding the activities of the army at the Rohingya camps was presented at the meeting.
The report said that the army has been providing support to the law enforcers in that area and have been ensuring 21 joint patrols everyday.
It said that even though the security system is stable, the Rohingyas might spread throughout the country if the hilly areas do not have proper boundaries.
It then recommended the authorities concerned to construct a barbed wire boundary in the camp area.
“A lot of Rohingyas do wander here and there. Hence we have recommended ensuring security there,” said Mohammad Faruk Khan, who sits on the committee.
He added that they have ordered adequate security to ensure that no one is able to enter or leave the camps.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Md Mahfuzur Rahman said that the Rohingya issue is a matter of concern for not just Bangladesh but for the entire south-eastern region.
“There are around 400,000 of Rohingya children aged 12-17 at the camps. Since they have no education, the consequences are dangerous,” he said.
He added that if they get the chance, they’ll spread across the country and international terrorist outfits might try to use them.
Meanwhile, a Parliament secretariat statement said that Bangladesh is third on the list to dispatch armed forces for peacekeeping missions.
It added that 5,856 members are currently appointed in nine peacekeeping missions of seven countries.