Bangladesh has sought support from the international support for the recognition of the genocides that took place during country’s War of Independence in 1971. Tareq Md. Ariful Islam, chargé d'affaires of permanent mission at the United Nations and deputy permanent representative, asked for the support while taking part in an open debate on ‘Responsibility to Protect and the Prevention of Genocides, Ethnic Cleansing, War Crimes and Crime against Humanity’ at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

The UN general assembly organised the debate, according to a press release forwarded by the permanent mission yesterday. With regards to ethnic cleansing, genocides and violence, the deputy permanent representative mentioned the displaced Rohingyas, who took shelter in Bangladesh, saying, “The violence and extensiveness of the crisis have moved the conscience of the world.” He hoped that the recent involvement of the UN in the Rakhine state of Myanmar will help prevent the recurrence

of violence against the Rohingya community. It will also

be helpful in voluntary, safe and dignified returns of the displaced Rohingyas to their homes or to the places of their choice, he added.

The deputy permanent representative reiterated Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina’s demand for a safe zone for the protection of the Rohingyas in Rakhine state made at the UN general assembly in 2017.

As part of Bangladesh’s contribution to the UN peacekeeping activities and in line with the lasting and progressive efforts at the national level, Dhaka will always uphold the international humanitarian and human rights laws, he said, referring to the country’s pledge to universalise the convention related to genocide and Rome Statute of International Criminal court. The representative also reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) declared and adopted in the world conference in 2005.