More than 500 Rohingya refugees are set to embark on a journey to Bhasan Char, a remote island designated for refugee relocation, as part of the 24th phase of relocations from Cox’s Bazar.

According to Mohammad Shamsud Douza Nayan, additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, the refugees have started gathering at Ukhiya Degree College from Monday evening. Authorities, including the Office of the Refugee, Relief and Relocation Commissioner, are facilitating registration and necessary preparations.

“The buses carrying these Rohingya refugees are expected to depart from Ukhiya to Chattogram’s Patenga around midnight,” Nayan said. From Patenga, the group will continue to Bhasan Char by ship on Tuesday morning.

This relocation follows the previous phase on Feb 14, when 1,527 Rohingya were moved to Bhasan Char. To date, nearly 32,000 refugees have been resettled on the island since the phased transfers began on Dec 4, 2020.

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