Anadolu Agency reports that Bangladesh’s government has restored high-speed mobile network and internet for the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Friday saw mobile networks and the internet restored just about a whole year after they had been suspended by the Bangladesh government. Bangladesh had in September 2019 imposed a ban on the use of cell phone SIM cards and the internet by Rohingya refugees citing ‘security’ concerns, forcing those Rohingya who were able to, to use mobile SIM cards in secret.

Bangladesh’s Post and Telecommunication Ministry was instructed to restore the services by an interministerial task force formed by the government. The country’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner said, “Following the government decision, the 3G and 4G mobile network and the internet have been restored.” The commissioner added that restoration of the services was important for better services to the Rohingya people amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Anadolu reports that there are 1.2 million displaced Rohingya Muslims in Cox’s Bazar, the majority of the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazaar had not even been aware of the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic across the globe due to the internet blackout imposed on them by the Bangladesh government. In March, the New York Times reported that, Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said, “The Bangladesh government is in a race against the clock to contain the spread of coronavirus, including in the Rohingya refugee camps, and can’t afford to waste precious time with harmful policies.” He said, “Authorities should lift the internet shutdown, which is obstructing crucial information about symptoms and prevention, or end up risking the lives of refugees, host communities, and healthcare workers.” Anadolu, meanwhile reports that with six new infections in the past 24 hours, and no adequate healthcare, coronavirus cases in Rohingya refugee camps have topped the 100 mark.

Umm Muhammed Umar