Govt to compensate Bangladeshis hit by refugee influx: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that the government would provide food and medical facilities to poor people in Ukhiya upazila in Cox’s Bazar whose livelihood and agricultural activities have been affected following the arrival of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

“We feel for the poor people who are facing untold sufferings due to the shelter given to the Rohingyas in the area. We've decided to arrange food for them—especially for those who are poor and do not have agricultural activities for their livelihood. We'll take measures so that they don’t remain hungry,” she said in reply to a supplementary question from ruling party MP Abdur Rahman Bodi during the PM’s question answer hour.

“If we can provide food and other assistance to 10 lakh Rohingyas, we'll be able to feed 15,000 local people as well. They will be given food and medical facilities,” she added.

Replying to a question from lawmaker Abdul Motin of Moulavi Bazar-2, Hasina said Bangladesh is now at the verge of an unprecedented crisis over providing humanitarian assistance to thousands of Rohingyas and repatriating them to their own country safely.

“The Rohingya crisis has taken a serious turn due to recent military operations and violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The present situation is very much worse compared to such incidents in the past,” she added.

The PM said Bangladesh has successfully attained strong support from the international community to repatriate the Rohingya refugees.

“I strongly believe that with assistance from the international community, we'll be able to successfully resolve the problem peacefully by defying various adversities,” she added.

She mentioned that about 10 lakh Rohingyas are now staying in Bangladesh, including four lakh refugees who had entered Bangladesh in the past. She said Myanmar has created the Rohingya crisis and must resolve it.

“It has been a time-befitting humanitarian decision by Bangladesh to give shelter to the displaced Rohingya people,” she said. In this context, Hasina mentioned that the country’s name is now being echoed by international leaders with great respect and honour.

The PM also said the government is working tirelessly to implement the five point proposals she had placed during the 72nd general assembly of the United Nations.

Replying to another supplementary question from Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary, the Premier said Bangladesh will not allow anyone to use its land to carry out any sort of terrorist acts or provocative activities against any other country.

“We believe in peace, and we want to maintain good relations with our neighbours. I want to make it clear that we won’t allow anyone to use the land of Bangladesh to carry out any sort of terrorist acts or provocative activities against any other country. We won’t tolerate this,” she added.

Portraying a sorry picture of Rohingyas, Hasina said more than six lakh refugees had taken shelter in the country isince late August as they faced atrocities in Myanmar. “And Rohingyas are still entering Bangladesh by crossing the border every day,” she added.

Mentioning the government’s steps in addressing the crisis, the PM said Bangladesh has been carrying out vigorous diplomatic initiatives to hold a special session of the UNHCR on the Rohingya crisis and to send them to their homeland. “We’ve been involved in hectic diplomatic efforts and bilateral communications with Myanmar to resolve the crisis,” she added.

She said the world community has stood by Bangladesh for the first time on any issue, unlike in the past.

Referring to the decade-long Rohingya crisis, Hasina said today’s problem was created by the Ziaur Rahman-led government in 1978. She alleged that there was no doubt that a vested quarter here has been instigating the Rohingyas to carry out violent acts.

Issuing a warning to the instigators, Hasina said: “If anybody instigates Rohingyas to carry out violent acts, that person must face the music. And there is no doubt about this.”

Responding to a query by Fazilatun Nasa Bappy, the PM said the UN secretary general had talked to her on October 21 over phone regarding the Rohingya issue. “At that time, I had sought his cooperation to implement my five-point proposals for a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis. I firmly told him that Myanmar has to take steps to soon take back with safety and dignity their nationals who were displaced forcibly,” she added.

Referring to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s recent visit to Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, the Premier questioned the motive of her visit. “It is a question asked by many people as to why she actually visited the camps,” she said.

“The way she went there—dressed up gorgeously and with a huge motorcade—it seemed as if she were to attend a wedding ceremony or to stage a showdown,” Hasina said, claiming that the opposition party did not have any sympathy for the Rohingyas.

Countering Khaleda’s allegation that the government has failed to address the Rohingya crisis, the PM said: “How can someone who is blind despite having eyes see the success stories of the government?”

She also questioned whether the BNP chief has any feeling for humanity. “We do not pay any heed to the words of those who patronise war criminals and kill people with firebombs in the name of movement,” she said.

Hasina mentioned that during her visit to Cox’s Bazar, the BNP chief had concentrated on a political showdown rather than providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people.

Hasina accused the BNP of creating the Rohingya problem and alleged that the BNP-Jamaat always wanted to fish in troubled waters. “They are always busy in that. They don’t have any humane quality. I don’t take her (Khaleda’s) remarks seriously,” she added.

Referring to the Rohingya influx to Bangladesh in 1991, the Premier said she had visited Cox’s Bazar that time before Khaleda, who was the PM then.

Govt to compensate Bangladeshis hit by refugee influx: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that the government would provide food and medical facilities to poor people in Ukhiya upazila in Coxs Bazar whose livelihood and agricultural activities have been affected following the arrival of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. We feel for the poor people who are facing untold sufferings due to the shelter given to the Rohingyas in the area. Weve decided to arrange food for themespecially for those who are poor and do not have agricultural activities for their livelihood. Well take measures so that they dont remain hungry, she said in reply to a supplementary question from ruling party MP Abdur Rahman Bodi during the PMs question answer hour. If we can provide food and other assistance to 10 lakh Rohingyas, well be able to feed 15,000 local people as well. They will be given food and medical facilities, she added. Replying to a question from lawmaker Abdul Motin of Moulavi Bazar-2, Hasina said Bangladesh is now at the verge of an unprecedented crisis over providing humanitarian assistance to thousands of Rohingyas and repatriating them to their own country safely. The Rohingya crisis has taken a serious turn due to recent military operations and violence in Myanmars Rakhine state. The present situation is very much worse compared to such incidents in the past, she added. The PM said Bangladesh has successfully attained strong support from the international community to repatriate the Rohingya refugees. I strongly believe that with assistance from the international community, well be able to successfully resolve the problem peacefully by defying various adversities, she added. She mentioned that about 10 lakh Rohingyas are now staying in Bangladesh, including four lakh refugees who had entered Bangladesh in the past. She said Myanmar has created the Rohingya crisis and must resolve it. It has been a time-befitting humanitarian decision by Bangladesh to give shelter to the displaced Rohingya people, she said. In this context, Hasina mentioned that the countrys name is now being echoed by international leaders with great respect and honour. The PM also said the government is working tirelessly to implement the five point proposals she had placed during the 72nd general assembly of the United Nations. Replying to another supplementary question from Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary, the Premier said Bangladesh will not allow anyone to use its land to carry out any sort of terrorist acts or provocative activities against any other country. We believe in peace, and we want to maintain good relations with our neighbours. I want to make it clear that we wont allow anyone to use the land of Bangladesh to carry out any sort of terrorist acts or provocative activities against any other country. We wont tolerate this, she added. Portraying a sorry picture of Rohingyas, Hasina said more than six lakh refugees had taken shelter in the country isince late August as they faced atrocities in Myanmar. And Rohingyas are still entering Bangladesh by crossing the border every day, she added. Mentioning the governments steps in addressing the crisis, the PM said Bangladesh has been carrying out vigorous diplomatic initiatives to hold a special session of the UNHCR on the Rohingya crisis and to send them to their homeland. Weve been involved in hectic diplomatic efforts and bilateral communications with Myanmar to resolve the crisis, she added. She said the world community has stood by Bangladesh for the first time on any issue, unlike in the past. Referring to the decade-long Rohingya crisis, Hasina said todays problem was created by the Ziaur Rahman-led government in 1978. She alleged that there was no doubt that a vested quarter here has been instigating the Rohingyas to carry out violent acts. Issuing a warning to the instigators, Hasina said: If anybody instigates Rohingyas to carry out violent acts, that person must face the music. And there is no doubt about this. Responding to a query by Fazilatun Nasa Bappy, the PM said the UN secretary general had talked to her on October 21 over phone regarding the Rohingya issue. At that time, I had sought his cooperation to implement my five-point proposals for a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis. I firmly told him that Myanmar has to take steps to soon take back with safety and dignity their nationals who were displaced forcibly, she added. Referring to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias recent visit to Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar, the Premier questioned the motive of her visit. It is a question asked by many people as to why she actually visited the camps, she said. The way she went theredressed up gorgeously and with a huge motorcadeit seemed as if she were to attend a wedding ceremony or to stage a showdown, Hasina said, claiming that the opposition party did not have any sympathy for the Rohingyas. Countering Khaledas allegation that the government has failed to address the Rohingya crisis, the PM said: How can someone who is blind despite having eyes see the success stories of the government? She also questioned whether the BNP chief has any feeling for humanity. We do not pay any heed to the words of those who patronise war criminals and kill people with firebombs in the name of movement, she said. Hasina mentioned that during her visit to Coxs Bazar, the BNP chief had concentrated on a political showdown rather than providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people. Hasina accused the BNP of creating the Rohingya problem and alleged that the BNP-Jamaat always wanted to fish in troubled waters. They are always busy in that. They dont have any humane quality. I dont take her (Khaledas) remarks seriously, she added. Referring to the Rohingya influx to Bangladesh in 1991, the Premier said she had visited Coxs Bazar that time before Khaleda, who was the PM then.