Grave situation of Buddhist political refugee in Bangladesh

Dhaka - Friday, Nov 11, 05: According to an anonymity Burmese Buddhist political refugee, in Bangladesh Buddhist political refugees were recognized by UNHCR since around 1990. At that time, Somali, Irani, Iraqi, Sri Lanker, Sieralions and Burmese, etc have been, among of them majority percent of refugees were Somali, they have been around 300 hundreds over personals.

That refugee told that when reached 1993, Burmese political refugee are become second majority stage mentioned among of them but only around 30 personals not more than that. And along 1990 to 1998, they (Burmese Buddhist refugees) have learnt that like everything have been going on smoothly including children educational in English Medium under the protection of concern authorities, when Somali nationals were around 300. Among of them around 30 Somali nationals refugees were provided with every facilities in international hostel as universities students by concern departments in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

By the way, mentioned among of them mostly of Somali, Irani, Iraqi, Sirilanken, Sieralions were gradually resettle in third countries. When reached 1998, 98% Somali were resettle in third countries and other Irani, Iraqi, etc were also nearly exhaust in Bangladesh. At the mean time other left refugees had to take so-called lump sum ( around $ 500, 400, 300, etc ) in 1998 under the 1997 policy of UNHCR.
With those small so-called lump sum, no any refugee could stand in self-reliance because lack of language skill, vocational training and lack of local people cooperation.

In that way, when reach in 2003, even refugees’ children educational expenses were also stopped for English medium and had to convert Bangli medium from English. Even though no problems for little students but had to totally stop their respective educational for older students under the like such sort of ill-treatment educational program of concern authority.

In previous years, Buddhist political refugees were experience arrested, tortured by authority of this country. And present days also, like always Buddhist political refugees were/ are being arrested persecution and interrogated by BDR, RAB, etc in the result of misinformation given by local people (Mr. Min War, a Buddhist political refugee recognized by UNHCR, is still in jail , authority personals are searching so hardly for Min War’s false). In this way, Buddhist political refugees are facing with so suffering in this country, like neither can live in urban because stopped SA by UNHCR since 1998 and nor live in rural because operation going on arms forces of Bangladesh by the name of against terrorists.

Even though they are suffering like in hell as mentioned in above, their concern authority are trying to stop even for their dependents SA (as mentioned in following document) which are being provided by UNHCR mean while consumption rates are ten time higher than if compare from 1990 (90 Tk have been provided for head of family and 45 Tk is being provided for per dependent by UNHCR).

So, on behalf of my fellow Buddhist political refugees, well-wishers NGOs and any third countries are requested by me very earnestly for save us from this hell. Said an anonymity Burmese Buddhist political refugee.

The Good Morning Arakan (News) - GMA


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UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Uaut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les regugies

UNHCR
House # NE (N) 8, Road # 90. Tel: + 880-2-8826802-06
Gulshan-2, Dhaka – 1212, Bangladesh Fax: +880-2-8826557
E-mail: bgdda@unhcr.ch

Ref no: BGDDA/6684

Notice
Subject: Assistance Policy for the Mandate Refugee and the Dependants

Please be informed that in light of recent developments, UNHCR Bangladesh is reviewing its urban refugee programme to ensure better protection and programme delivery for the mandate refugees and their dependents as follows:
1. The maximum period of the subsistence allowance (SA) will be for six months starting from the date of the recognition as a refugee. The dependant (s) having derivative status accordingly will have SA also for six months. No SA will be applicable for persons who will be included in the file at the latter stage(ie. New arrival or birth).
The rate of SA will remain the same as existing one (i.e. BDT 90. 00 and BDT 45. 00 respectively for the main applicant and dependant(s) per day).
2. After having SA for a period of six months, the IC will be provided with a lump-sum amount for his/her income generation and self-reliance(SR) activities. That means the IC has to come up with a proposal within six months, so that s/he could start the SR activity following the end of the period for SA. This allowance (SA) period will not be extended unless there is a valid reason or a special circumstance.
3. The amount of the SR grant will be around BDT 20,000.00 (Twenty thousand only). Latter on, an additional amount may be provided considering prospect of the project and its viability. This provision will be effected from 1st January 2006.
4. As the lump-sum amount provided aims at the ICs be self-reliant and capable of supporting the dependant, if any, so no more SA OR other allowances (except education allowance for the school going children, need-based medical allowance-subject to certification from a designated physician) will be applicable.
5. SA that has exceeded six months (irrespective of main applicants and dependants) will be stopped from January 2006. (last month of payment will be December 2005). This will be applicable irrespective of levels of the refugees.
6. The education allowance for the school going children will be continued as per existing practice (this is also under further review).
7. The office will be providing special consideration in case of elderly persons, woman headed family, unaccompanied children, or other wise in a vulnerable situation.
8. For any clarification or further information in this regard, please contact our implementing partner, RCSU of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, House-11/A, Road –12 (New), Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka – 1209, Tel: 9145103, 0189 274377. If required, they will arrange a meeting for you with the concerned official from UNHCR.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.


Already signed
Christopher Beng Cha Lee
Representative