Protests against atrocities continue
STAFF REPORTER
Political parties and organisations, including the Buddhist community, yesterday (Friday) staged demonstrations and brought out processions in the city, protesting atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmars Arakan state. Speaking at the rallies, leaders demanded that the Myanmar authorities stop the genocide. They called upon the international community to intervene to stop the massacre of Rohingyas and allow them to return safely.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB), one of the major Islamist parties in the country, will gherao the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka on September 13 in protest against the repressive policy of Myanmar on Rohingya Muslims. Mufti Sayed Mohammad Fayzul Karim, Nayebe Ameer of the IAB, announced the programme at a protest rally in front of the North Gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after the Juma prayers.
The IAB will gather in front of the Baitul Mukarram at 10:00am on the day. The other programmes of the organisation include holding protest rallies at the district level on September 11 and starting a relief distribution programme among the Myanmar refugees on September 12.
Mufti Fayzul Karim, who is also pir of Charmonai, demanded that the Myanmar authorities provide citizenship to the Rohingya Muslims. He said if they are not considered as citizens of Myanmar despite having lived there for over a thousand years, it means that Arakan is a part of Bangladesh.
He demanded trial of the Myanmarese leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in the international tribunal for war crimes, deployment of UN peacekeepers in the Rohingya state and implementation of recommendations of the Kofi Anan Commission.
The IAB leader questioned the role of the United Nations to deal with the Rohingya crisis and called upon the Muslim Ummah to forge a greater unity to protect the interests of Muslims.
He also emphasised the need to form a separate United Nations for the sake of world Muslims.
IAB leaders Maulana Imtiaz Alam and Maulana ATM Hemayet Uddin, among others, also spoke on the occasion.
Later, they brought out a procession in the city. Khelafat Majlish also staged a demonstration in the city, protesting the repressive policy of Myanmar on Rohingya Muslims.
Dr Ahmed Abdul Quader, secretary general of the organisation, and Maulana Ahmed Kashemi, among others, spoke on the occasion. Bangladeshis Buddhist community yesterday called upon the Myanmar government to stop atrocities on Rohingyas.
The community, under the banner of the Bangladesh United Buddhists Forum, came up with the call at a human chain formed in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees have been entering Bangladesh from Myanmar in the last couple of months, following the continuous bloodshed in the Rakhine state.
The forum also expressed deep concern over the security of Buddhists in Bangladesh as rumours were being spread against them in the social media.
Speaking at the programme, the Forums chief convener, Ashokh Barua, said: I call upon the Myanmar government and its security forces to deal with the issue in a non-violent way.
He said the Forum will submit a memorandum to the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka on September 10 and send a copy of it to the local office of the United Nations.
He also alleged that some groups with vested interests are spreading rumours in the social media blaming Buddhists for the attacks on Rohingya Muslims.
Many of our peace-loving Buddhists feel insecure for such revengeful attitude of a few people, he observed. Forum president Dr Ashim Ranjan Barua, the executive president of its womens chapter, Prof Tripti Rani Barua, and others addressed the human chain.
