A total of 45 Rohingya refugees fleeing from Bhasan Char were detained by local residents in the Bhatiari Union area of Sitakunda upazila, Chattogram, on Monday. The group was intercepted while attempting to escape through an abandoned shipyard near the Oxygen Road area. Locals, upon discovering the group, confined them and subsequently informed the local police, who later took them into custody and arranged for their return to Bhasan Char.

The detained individuals were part of a larger group that reportedly fled Bhasan Char in three separate trawlers. Their intended destination was the Rohingya camps in Teknaf, located in Cox’s Bazar. According to statements from the refugees, two of the trawlers managed to reach their destination, but the third trawler encountered mechanical failure. As a result, the passengers of the disabled vessel were forced to disembark along the coastal area of Sitakunda’s Bhatiari region.

Several of the detained Rohingyas expressed their frustration and despair regarding living conditions on Bhasan Char. They claimed that the food supply on the island is insufficient and that survival there is increasingly difficult. One of the refugees stated that they would rather die than be sent back to Bhasan Char, vowing to flee again to Teknaf if they are returned. This sentiment was echoed by others who expressed strong opposition to returning to the isolated island.

The local residents who detained the refugees took immediate action upon discovering the group. Former Union Chairman of Bhatiari, Anwar Hossain, said he was informed by residents about the presence of the Rohingyas and arranged temporary food for them before contacting the authorities. He coordinated the handover to Sitakunda police without any reported violence or resistance.

Sitakunda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Mujibur Rahman confirmed the detainment and transportation plans. He stated that all 45 detained individuals will be sent back to Bhasan Char via a large police-escorted vehicle. Necessary arrangements have been made to ensure their safe transport and security during the journey.

This incident highlights growing tensions surrounding the relocation of Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal developed by the Bangladeshi government to ease the population pressure in Cox’s Bazar’s crowded camps. Despite assurances from the authorities regarding facilities on the island, many Rohingyas remain reluctant to stay there, citing restrictions on movement, isolation, and limited resources as major concerns.

Human rights organizations have previously voiced apprehensions about the voluntary nature of these relocations and the conditions on the island. Although the government maintains that the island provides better infrastructure and safety, repeated attempts by refugees to escape suggest deeper dissatisfaction among the relocated population.

As the authorities proceed with sending the detained individuals back to Bhasan Char, questions persist about the long-term sustainability of the relocation strategy and the challenges of managing refugee populations who seek greater freedom of movement and better living standards.