Rohingya crisis affecting Bangladesh adversely: CPD

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Executive Director Fahmida Khatun said the Rohingya crisis was putting an adverse effect on Bangladesh's economy, society and its environment.

In a jointly organised dialogue titled "The Economic Influence of the Rohingya Crisis and the Upcoming Budget" along with local chapter of Socheton Nagorik Committee (SNC -Transparency International Bangladesh) on Sunday, she said, as a result of this crisis, Bangladesh is going through numerous challenges, as per Dhaka Tribune.

Pointing out outcomes of the ongoing crisis, Fahmida said, "Rohingya Muslims who are taking refuge in Bangladesh have a negative impression on the local Bengalis. It has also led to the rise in population and a hygiene crisis has been observed in the camps."

"Beginning from August last year till March 25 this year, $322 million have been donated for the Rohingyas through international donor agencies," she stated, "the Bangladesh government has estimated that $434 million has been spent on some 80 million Rohingyas till then. And 74% of that expense has been borne by the agencies, but the rest have been accumulated by our government," Dhaka Tribune quoted Fahmida as saying.

Taking care of them for the rest of the year would require a further $950 million, she added.

As per the repatriation agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar, if Myanmar takes back 300 Rohingyas every month, the problem would not be solved before 2025.

She said that the next seven years would require another $4,433 million for sheltering and feeding them.

To establish a refugee camp for one million Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, the National Economic Council of Bangladesh government has approved a $280 million worth project.

Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

More than 600,000 Rohingyas are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar military campaign launched in August last year.

The United Nations (UN) had said the scorched-earth operation, which had left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Myanmar's Rakhine state, amounted to 'ethnic cleansing'.