Rohingya should not be Restricted from Communicating Families : UNHCR

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: The Government of Bangladesh does have overall responsibility for ensuring security and safety of the Rohingyas who are sheltered in Cox’s Bazar, UNCHR spokesperson.

Rohingyas sheltered in Cox’s Bazar should not be subjected to any restrictions which stop them from communicating with their relatives, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said.

In reply, the concerned officials of the government of Bangladesh have said clearly that there are no restrictions in place that prevent the Rohingya sheltered from contacting their relatives.

“Rohingya are able to communicate with their family members by direct call but recently even the direct call automatically cuts off within one- or two-minutes,” told a victim to RVision. “And they cannot use social network the speed of the internet has been lowered to 2G,” he added.

In response to journalists’ questions about reported BTRC restrictions in Cox’s Bazar following protests there, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that those seeking shelter should not be prevented from contacting relatives or friends living elsewhere, according to the website of the UN News.

“The Government of Bangladesh does have overall responsibility for ensuring security and safety of the Rohingyas who are sheltered in Cox’s Bazar,” UNCHR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said on Friday.

“Given the humanitarian nature of the Rohingya refugee settlements, we would recommend the adoption of security measures that do not impact upon the ability of refugees to access basic services and rights and live safely,” he said. 

“There are no restrictions in place. Rohingyas can communicate with their relatives anytime they wish to do so,” a government official told Dhaka Tribune’s correspondent. “For the purpose of ensuring security, the speed of the internet has been lowered for the last few days,” said another official.

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