Bhasan Char: The Mystery of the Sea Ambulance
Bhasan Char: The Mystery of the Sea Ambulance
UNHCR's Empty Promises on Bhasan Char
Bhasan Char is a name that has become synonymous with the suffering of Rohingya refugees. This remote island, isolated from the mainland and plagued by an array of tragic incidents, is a ticking time bomb for the thousands who call it their temporary home. Over the years, the island has witnessed an unsettling variety of deaths: from drownings of those desperate to escape, suicides driven by despair, and murders, to deaths due to lack of timely and proper healthcare. Most recently, ten people lost their lives in a tragedy that unfolded on a privately hired boat returning to Bhasan Char after a visit to relatives on the mainland. The boat, like so many others used to ferry refugees back and forth, was devoid of basic safety equipment - an absence that proved fatal.
In the chaos that followed the latest tragedy, one glaring absence stood out during the rescue mission: the sea ambulance, donated by TIKA, the Turkish aid agency, and touted by UNHCR as a game-changer for Bhasan Char. Where was this life-saving vessel when it was most needed?
The Vanishing Act of the Sea Ambulance
On May 15th, UNHCR proudly announced to the world, "Bhasan Char became a lot safer for refugees today, with the arrival of a sea ambulance. Thanks to @tikadakka and the Turkish people, the ambulance connects the island to hospitals on the Bangladeshi mainland - a vital resource in case of emergency." The tweet, adorned with a picturesque image of a modern-looking sea ambulance against the backdrop of a setting sun and vast sea, seemed to herald a new era of safety and security for the island's beleaguered inhabitants.
But reality quickly proved otherwise. The much-hyped sea ambulance, far from being a lifeline for the refugees, was nothing more than a prop - a shiny object used by the RRRC to distract from the grim realities of life on Bhasan Char. The ambulance, shown off to ICT Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak during his visit to the island on March 1st, was praised for its role in transforming Bhasan Char into a "smart island." Yet, for all the talk of "smart" this and "smart" that, the ambulance never actually transported a single Rohingya to the mainland.
The Truth Behind the Hype
The reality was that the sea ambulance, though modern-looking in UNHCR’s picture, was far from functional. It quickly broke down due to a fatal engine failure, rendering it completely unusable. Instead of connecting the island to vital healthcare resources on the mainland, it sat idle, a symbol of broken promises and misplaced priorities.
Yet, despite the critical failure of the sea ambulance, neither TIKA nor UNHCR addressed the issue publicly. The tweet celebrating the ambulance's arrival was never corrected. The Rohingya on Bhasan Char were left in the dark, unaware that the vessel meant to save their lives in times of emergency was nothing more than a mirage. It was only today, after the tragic loss of life, that staff from the Friendship Hospital informed the head majhees that the sea ambulance was out of service.
A Pattern of Misplaced Priorities
This incident is not just a failure of equipment; it is a failure of responsibility. UNHCR, in its eagerness to paint a rosy picture, has once again shown that it prioritises feel-good stories over its fundamental protection role. The agency seems more concerned with pleasing the authorities than with the actual safety and well-being of the refugees it is supposed to protect.
So where is the accountability? How can an organisation tasked with safeguarding the lives of vulnerable people so easily gloss over such a critical failure? The silence from UNHCR and TIKA is deafening, and it raises serious questions about their commitment to the people of Bhasan Char.
What Now?
In the wake of this debacle, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) has reportedly assured refugees on Bhasan Char that a government-provided boat will now be used for transfers. But this is a small consolation for the families of those who have already lost their lives due to the systemic failures on the island.
Bhasan Char continues to be a place of untold suffering, and the mystery of the sea ambulance is just the latest chapter in a long story of neglect and mismanagement. Until there is real accountability and a genuine commitment to the protection of refugees, Bhasan Char will remain a dangerous and unforgiving place.
The Rohingya deserve better. They deserve transparency, they deserve safety, and they deserve a voice that will speak out against these injustices - not one that hides behind pretty pictures and empty promises.