Bangladesh sends hundreds of Rohingya refugees to new shelters on remote island in Bay of Bengal

Bangladesh began transferring Rohingya refugees on December 3, 2020, to the low-lying Bhasan Char island in the Bay of Bengal – an area prone to cyclones, high tides and flooding. About 1,600 people were reportedly transferred on December 4 alone to the island where the Bangladesh Navy has built shelters. Human rights groups said the Rohingyas were coerced into moving but the Bangladeshi government said it was only moving refugees who have volunteered to go.