Bhasan Char and Yaas: Rohingyas confident about protection

Abdul Hamid was a little wary of coming to Bhasan Char with his wife and three children in December last year.

He had heard the island on the Bay of Bengal was susceptible to cyclones and people told him such an event would simply sweep him off the island.

He was therefore a little apprehensive when relatives from Cox's Bazar recently called to say Cyclone Yaas was headed his way.

But after seeing the contingencies in place, Abdul Hamid seemed confident of his and his family's safety even if the weather worsened.

"Officials have held meetings and started public announcements telling us which shelter to go to if the situation deteriorates," said Hamid yesterday while standing in front of a warehouse in Bhasan Char as conditions started to become a little gusty.

"There is no reason to fear as the [cyclone] shelters are good."

Like Hamid, 70-year-old Modina Begum also said there is no reason to fear the cyclone.

"The Bangladesh government said it will give us the highest possible assistance if anything happens. The rest is up to the Almighty," she said as she wrapped up her belongings, preparing to go to the shelter.

Ahead of Cyclone Yaas striking the coast, Rohingyas in Bhasan Char were taking full preparation to move to the shelters.

Since early morning yesterday, Rohingya leaders (majhis), members of various law enforcement agencies and volunteers went door to door asking Rohingyas to go to cyclone centres if the situation worsened.

Till yesterday evening, the weather was sunny and the sea calm. But as night fell, the wind picked up steadily and the sea became choppy.

Authorities said they have completed all preparations and were monitoring the situation closely.

They held a special meeting with the majhis and gave directives about what to do during and after the cyclone.

"We are ensuring the safety of the Rohingyas, cattle and at the same time the embankment. We have kept around 20 water pumps ready to remove water," Commodore Rashed Sattar, Project Director of Ashrayan-3 project, popularly known as the Bhasan Char project, told The Daily Star.

He said till now there is little chance of the cyclone hitting Bhasan Char hard but everyone is on high alert nonetheless.

"Sufficient geo bags are kept ready at various locations of the embankment for emergency use in case of overflow of sea water," he added.

"We have already established the operations room to monitor the situation closely," he added.

Apart from these, 40 tonnes of dry foods, including puffed rice, was ready for distribution if and when they are evacuated, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner's office said.

"A three-tier medical preparation -- before, during and after the cyclone -- was ensured," Moazzem Hossain, additional RRRC, said.

The Bangladesh government had spent around Tk 3,100 crore developing the island for Rohingya refugees.

A number of development and international organisations questioned its safety and protection from natural disasters when the government decided to relocate Rohingyas there.

Officials said the embankment had been constructed after studying history and data of the last 176 years.

The outermost rim or the first line of defence is the "Screen Break water" -- a string of strong pillars along a 2.5-km stretch in the sea to break strong currents and waves. This is followed by gravel and geo bags.

The entire island has also seen intense mangrove afforestation to protect against cyclones and storm surges.

"More than one lakh people can be sheltered in those centres. So, Bhasan Char can be used as a rescue hub of all islands in the Hatiya, Sandwip areas," Commodore AA Mamun Chowdhury, former project director of Ashrayan-3, told The Daily Star.

He also said each shelter was constructed 14 metres above ground level and can withstand wind speeds of 260 kmph.