Rohingya Crisis: Speakers call for joint risk assessment in Cox’s Bazar

Speakers at a discussion in Cox’s Bazar emphasised on conducting a joint risk assessment in Cox’s Bazar, as locals affected by Rohingya crisis are not getting fair share of benefits of development programmes.

An effective and holistic development plan should be taken based on it, they told a meeting on Thursday, says a press release

COAST Trust and UNHCR jointly hosted the event, “Together for Better Rohingya Response until the Repatriation and Facilitating Development in Cox’s Bazar” .

Speakers called for making education the top priority in development planning, and ensuring participation of local civil society organisations (CSO) and union parishads (UP) at all levels.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST Trust and Abu Musrhed Chowdhury of Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum moderated the discussion, where KM Abdus Salam, director general of the NGO Affairs Bureau, was present as the chief guest.

Barrister Manzoor Hasan of Center for Peace and Justice of Brac University; Shireen Haque of Naripokkho; disaster management experts Abdul Latif Khan and Nayeem Gowhar Warha; Manuel Manoise Periera, Cox’s Bazar chief at IOM; Hinako Talki, senior operations manager of UNHCR; and Jinnat Shahid Pinky, assistant commissioner of the district commissioner’s office, also took part in the discussion.

Salam said the NGO Affairs Bureau is trying to ensure coordination in programmes for Rohingyas and locals. “We should consider that a portion of the funds are earmarked for the local area,” he said.

Hinako Talki said UNHCR is implementing about 80 programmes in the area, and many are working on infrastructure development.

Latif Khan said instead of identifying the risks or problems separately, a joint risk assessment is needed.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said the government has nine mega projects in Cox’s Bazar including airport, railway, power plant and shelter. “Every effort must be made to keep Cox’s Bazar free from terrorism to ensure that there is no obstacle in implementing the projects,” he said.

Upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen, chairmen of union parishads, teachers, students, journalists, representatives of civil society, national and international NGOs and UN agencies, and in-charges of six camps also attended the programme.