to evaluate conditions on the island. The refugees rescued at sea and family members in
Cox’s Bazar told Human Rights Watch that those on the island were being confined in
prison-like conditions without freedom of movement or adequate access to food, water, or
medical care. 85 Some alleged that Bangladesh security forces have beaten refugees when
they complain. One refugee, Yusuf Ali, 43, whose daughters are on Bhasan Char, said his
daughters told him it feels like they are living in “an island jail in the middle of the sea.” 86
Bangladesh government officials have told the refugees that they have no choice but to
remain on the island. A refugee on Bhasan Char, Jomir Hussain, said that military officials
told him, “Don’t even think to go back to the camps. Your whole family will be brought
over here.” 87
Desperate Plea to Return During “Go and See” Visit
In early September 2020, the government organized a “go and see” visit to Bhasan Char
for three days in which 40 refugees from the settlements in Cox’s Bazar, including
community leaders and some family members of those being held on the island. 88 Human
Rights Watch interviewed 20 Rohingya refugees from the visiting delegation after they
returned to Cox’s Bazar on September 8. All of them said people detained on the island
had pleaded to be allowed to return home with their relatives. 89
The visitors were allowed to meet with their relatives on the island only once. Two visiting
delegation members said that when one woman became frantic, demanding to seeing her
brother again, Bangladesh navy officers beat her, causing her head to hit a wall. Her
brother, Arifula, 42, who was part of the delegation, said: “When we met, they were all
begging and crying, asking us to bring them back to their families. I felt helpless, leaving
my sister on that prison-like island alone.” 90 One woman from the delegation, Maymuna,
27, said: “Most of the women I talked to said that their only wish was leave Bhasan Char
85 “Bangladesh: Cyclone Endangers Rohingya on Silt Island,” Human Rights Watch news release, May 20, 2020,
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/20/bangladesh-cyclone-endangers-rohingya-silt-island (accessed April 16, 2021).
86 Human Rights Watch interview with Yusuf Ali, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, May 4, 2020.
87 Human Rights Watch interview with Jomir Hussain, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, May 18, 2020.
88 Abdul Aziz, “First Rohingya Team on the way to Bhasan Char,” Dhaka Tribune, September 5, 2020,
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/09/05/first-rohingya-team-on-the-way-to-bhashan-char
(accessed April 19, 2021).
89 “Bangladesh: Reunify Rohingya Refugee Families,” Human Rights Watch news release, September 15, 2020,
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/15/bangladesh-reunify-rohingya-refugee-families (accessed April 16, 2021).
90 Human Rights Watch interview with Arifula, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, September 10, 2020.
“AN ISLAND JAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA”
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