III. Unprepared, Haphazard Relocations to Bhasan Char On December 3, 2020, Bangladesh authorities began relocating thousands of refugees to Bhasan Char, reneging on promises that they would wait for an independent technical assessment. In a statement on December 2, the United Nations said that it had not been involved in preparation for this transfer and that “any relocations to Bhasan Char should be preceded by comprehensive technical protection assessments.” 95 The UN also said the government should ensure that any relocation is voluntary. 96 There are currently 38 Bangladeshi nongovernmental groups working on the island to support the refugees, but their staffing and resources are limited, and they have nowhere near the capacity to serve the refugees properly. 97 But without an independent assessment of the safety and habitability of the island, international humanitarian agencies are limited in their ability to provide services on the island. “The refugees are in need of protection, which is our mandate,” said a UN official. “But there have to be discussions on policy framework and then operational safety on Bhasan Char.” 98 Refugees have reported serious concerns about their rights on the island. In particular, they described forced relocations, no formal education, a lack of adequate medical care, food shortages, a lack of promised livelihood, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, and abuses by security forces. Lack of Free and Informed Consent Though the government has repeatedly claimed that any relocation to Bhasan Char will be voluntary, some refugees said they were forced or threatened by camp authorities, while others said they were given false information about conditions on the island. 99 95 UNHCR, “United Nations Statement on the Relocation of Rohingya Refugees to Bhasan Char,” December 2, 2020, https://bangladesh.un.org/en/103285-press-statement (accessed April 16, 2021). 96 Ibid. 97 Shehab Sumon, “UN completes first review of Bangladesh’s ‘Rohingya island,’” Arab News, March 22, 2021, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1829456/world (accessed April 20, 2021). 98 Human Rights Watch interview with UN official (details withheld), Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 29, 2021. 99 Sarah Marsh, “Bangladesh Prepares to Move Rohingya to Island at Risk of Floods and Cyclones,” The Guardian, July 19, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jul/19/bangladesh-prepares-to-move-rohingya-to-island-atrisk-of-floods-and-cyclones (accessed April 27, 2021). “AN ISLAND JAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA” 32