Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday expressed hope that the United Nations (UN) would take a strong stand in repatriating the Rohingyas who are currently staying in Bangladesh as refugees.

“UN representatives are working in both Bangladesh and Myanmar to repatriate the Rohingyas. We hope that the UN will take a strong stand against Myanmar and force it to take back their citizens,” he said.

Quader, who is also the road transport and bridges minister, was receiving relief materials for the Rohingyas at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday.

Lambasting the Myanmar government, the minister said it is trying to cover up their crimes. The persecution against the Rohingyas is a genuine genocide and ethnic cleansing, he added.

About the BNP’s comment on the government’s role in the Rohingya crisis, Quader said: “While the global community has lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her role in the crisis, the BNP and its chief didn’t show any courtesy to the government. This is very unfortunate.”

“We want to resolve the Rohingya crisis through talks and our efforts will continue in this regard,” he noted.

Abu Reza Chowdhury, chairman of the Allama Fazlul Haque Foundation, handed over solar lights worth Tk 5.5 lakh, while Satkania Samity and Chittagong City unit Sechchhasebak League handed over 50 units of solar panels and Tk. 3 lakh to the minister on the occasion.

AL joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organising secretaries AFM Bahauddin Nasim and AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, and deputy office secretary Biplab Barua were present there.

Quader distributed relief materials carried by about 100 trucks among the Rohingyas on behalf of the ruling party.