The Awami League (AL) was unhappy with the Indian and Chinese governments for “not playing a positive role” in supporting Bangladesh to resolve the Rohingya crisis, party insiders told The Independent yesterday. AL leaders, however, were hopeful that since Bangladesh shared good relationships with India and China, the two Asian giants would put pressure on the Myanmarese government to resolve the issue.

“We will not say that we are unhappy, but we had hoped for more cooperation from the Indian and Chinese governments in resolving the Rohingya crisis,” said AL joint general secretary Dipu Moni.

“We have already appealed to the international community, including India and China, to help the Bangladesh government to overcome the present crisis,” she added.

The AL leader said that the party leadership has decided to send an 18-member delegation, led by its presidium member Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, to China on September 19 to seek support from the Communist Party over the Rohingya issue.

China and India governments have already expressed their support for Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis. On his part, Faruk Khan said they were deeply concerned over the Rohingya issue. “We will be staying in China for nearly a week and discuss the crisis with the ruling party leaders there,” he added.

Health minister Mohammad Nasim said India and China were not supporting the Bangladesh government in the manner that they were supposed to. “But we hope they will respond to our call to cooperate with the Bangladesh government to resolve the crisis,” he added.

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader expressed hope that India would stand beside Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. “Our neighbouring country India support Bangladesh now as it did during our War of independence in 1971,” he added.

AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said the government was in “deep discomfort” over the continuous influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh in the past few weeks.

He also said the Sheikh Hasina government has been facing difficulties as well as international pressure for giving shelter to the Rohingyas.

Rahman further said the AL could not concentrate on party works ahead of the next general election slated for 2019. “We apprehend that an untoward situation centring the Rohingya issue may be created ahead of the next polls,” he added.

According to the United Nations, over three lakh Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh following brutal persecution by Myanmarese security forces that started on August 25.