By: Camp Correspondent
Chattogram, May 13, 2025 —
Bangladeshi police have detained 45 Rohingya refugees, including 20 children and 11 women, after they fled Bhasan Char Island by boat and were found hiding in a closed shipbreaking yard in Bhatiyari, under Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram.
The arrest took place earlier today following a tip-off, according to Additional Superintendent of Police (DB) Md Rasel, who spoke to The Daily Star.
“Police detained 45 Rohingya people inside a closed ship-breaking yard. Among them, 14 are men, 11 women, and 20 children,” he said.
Preliminary reports indicate that the group had escaped from Bhasan Char using small engine boats and were later dropped off along the Sitakunda coastline. Some members of the group reportedly claimed to have come from Cox’s Bazar in an attempt to avoid detection.
Police officials have confirmed that arrangements are being made to send the detainees back to Bhasan Char by bus.
This incident adds to a growing number of Rohingya attempting to flee the isolated and restrictive conditions on Bhasan Char, a remote island where more than 30,000 refugees have been relocated as part of the Bangladeshi government’s resettlement efforts.
Human rights groups have long expressed concern over the lack of freedom of movement, employment opportunities, and adequate healthcare on the island, prompting many refugees to risk dangerous escape routes by sea.
While authorities maintain that the relocation to Bhasan Char was voluntary, frequent escape attempts like this highlight the desperation felt by many residents who see no future there.
