"The UNHCR official gave me a new ID card on Wednesday, but the card is different from the previous one because it is nicer and is also good for five years," he said.
Previously, the UNHCR office in Dhaka issued only ID cards valid for one year to urban Burmese refugees, requiring the refugees to visit the office in Dhaka to obtain a new card on a yearly basis, and incur the costs of travelling to the capital.
"I heard that it is being issued by the UNHCR for better refugee security, and it is also meant for urban refugees who are staying in rural areas. Some refugees in rural areas of Bangladesh are unable to come to Dhaka to change their ID cards yearly because of lack of money for traveling expenses," he said.
After issuing the five-year ID cards, Burmese refugees will not need to visit the Dhaka office in person every year to renew their cards.
UNHCR officials first issued the new ID cards to urban refugees in the Cox's Bazaar area near the Burmese border.
There are over 200 urban Burmese refugees in Bangladesh and most are Arakanese and Chin nationals who fled from oppression in Burma and are living throughout Bangladesh outside any refugee camp.
