Internet service resumes in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp

The refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Ukhia Upazila have relaunched Internet services. Internet service went live in the camps around 11 a.m. on Friday. On that day last year, August 26, the internet service in the refugee camps was shut down.

Although the 3G 4G service of the mobile network was stopped, the 2G service of the mobile was activated. However, the weakening of the mobile network disrupted the operational activities of the Rohingya in the refugee camps of international organizations and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Mahbub Alam Talukder, Co-Secretary, Commissioner of the Cox’s Bazar Office of Refugee Aid and Repatriation, confirmed the matter, saying that the government has relaunched Internet service in refugee camps following requests from various international organizations and the opinions of the Commission office.

Millions of Rohingya are known to have gathered at the camp on August 25 last year, the second anniversary of the Rohingya infiltration. This gathering of Rohingya caused a stir at home and abroad. Refugee relief and repatriation are concerned and the district administration and police administration in Cox’s Bazar are also in crisis. The Office for Refugee Aid and Repatriation and the district administration blame each other for not allowing Rohingya gatherings. In this context, several officials, including senior officials from the repatriation office, were removed. At the time, some blamed internet services for the Rohingya mass gathering.

Later, on August 26 last year, the government shut down internet services in all 34 Rohingya camps.

More than 150 international and local organizations involved in various activities in the Rohingya camp have encountered problems since the internet service was cut off. The agencies also demanded that the government introduce Internet services in the refugee camps.

The Rohingya community in the refugee camps also demanded the launch of Internet services.

Mahbub Alam Talukder, deputy secretary of the Commissioner for Refugee Aid and Repatriation, said that several international organizations, including the United Nations, had demanded the introduction of Internet services in refugee camps. The government has introduced the Internet service in the refugee camps, as there are no objections from the local administration and the repatriation office. However, with this Internet service, there will be no public order problems in the camp.

Teacher Abdur Rahim, a leader of the Rohingya community in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia, said that Internet services had been available in the Rohingya camps since this morning, but that the network was very weak. He again thanked the government for launching internet service in Rohingya camps.