The Hefazat-e-Islami Bangladesh will gherao the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka on Monday in protest against atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state of that country. Junaid Babu Nagori, secretary general of the quaomi madrasa-based organisaion, announced the programme at a protest rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

The Hefazat leader called upon the Prime Minister to resolve the Rohingya crisis through strong diplomatic efforts. “If the government fails to deal with the issue properly, countrymen are prepared to take part in the war,” he said.

Babu Nagori also warned that if the genocide on Rohingya Muslims is not stopped, they would hold a mammoth gathering in the city on September 18, as they did on May 5, 2013.

Maulana Noor Hossain Kashemi, nayeb-e-amir of the Hefazat Islami, urged the

government to play the role of a coordinator on the Rohingya issue. He said the government has to pressurise the world community, including the United Nations, to force Myanmar to stop the genocide in its Rakhine state.

The Hefazat leader, who presided over the rally, said the only solution to the Rohingya crisis is to ensure freedom of the Rakhine state for Rohingyas. “Restoration of peace for Rohingyas is not possible without an independent state. Play the role of a coordinator, or provide us arms and we’ll fight to make the Rakhine state independent,” he added.

Many other Islamic parties and organisations, including the Ulema Mashayekh Parishad, Islmai Oikya Andolon and the Juba Islamic Andolon, also staged demonstrations and brought out processions from the Baitul Mukarram Mosque, protesting against the repressive policies of the Myanmar government.

Leaders of these organisations also demanded that the government put strong diplomatic pressure on the UN and world leaders to force Myanmar to stop the genocide and resolve the Rohingya crisis.