Place in news: Bhashan Char Island

Place in news: Bhashan Char Island

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations

In news

• Recently, Bangladesh has transported more than 1,600 Rohingya refugees to a low-lying Bhashan Char island in the first phase of a controversial planned relocation of 1,00,000 people.

Important value addition

Bhashan Char Island

• Bhasan Char also known as Char Piya, is an island in Hatiya, Bangladesh.
• The island was formed with Himalayan silt in 2006.
• It is underwater from June to September annually because of the monsoon, and it has no flood fences.
• In June 2015, the Bangladeshi government suggested resettling Rohingya refugees on the island under its Ashrayan Project.
• The proposal was characterized by the UN Refugee Agency as “logistically challenging”.
• Bhashan Char is a flood-prone island that emerged from the sea 20 years ago.
• Concerns: (1) It is flood-prone island; (2) Vulnerable to frequent cyclones; (3) Too small to occupy and nurture the Rohingya population; (4) Chronic overcrowding in camps.

For further read, click the below links:

• ICJ’s ruling on Myanmar Rohingya
• Understanding Rohingya crisis: Click here