Bhasan Char : Bastion in the Bay

A small remote island of Bangladesh coast with the Bay of Bengal, Bhasan Char used to be a sanctuary for robbers and pirates besides being used as pasture for cattle belonging to the residents of nearby islands. That very island has turned into a beacon of hope for the Rohingya refugees, victims of genocide and persecution. Once living in the congested refugee camps of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, the Rohingyas have started to dream of a better life on Bhasan Char. But their journey from those camps to this island was not smooth. There were apprehensions and rumours about resettling the Rohingyas to this remote island which transformed into a model for refugee habitation not just in the region but also in the world. Behind that transformation lay strong resolve, farsightedness, planning and tireless effort.