Govt uncomfortable over Rohingya refugee crisis

BNP, JP, Hefazat for giving shelter to Muslims fleeing Myanmar

The Awami League (AL)-led government finds itself in a soup because of recent developments in the longstanding Rohingya crisis. The Sheikh Hasina administration has already sought international help to resolve the crisis in neighbouring Myanmar, where Rohingya Muslims are facing persecution and torture. Two major political parties—the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad)—have already urged the Sheikh Hasina government to let fleeing Myanmar citizens enter Bangladesh. The Hefazat-e-Islam, one of the major Islamist groups, on Friday staged a huge demonstration in Dhaka, seeking a government directive for temporary entry of Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian grounds.
When asked about the stance of the ruling Awami League on the Rohingya crisis, AL joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni yesterday said: “Our party’s stance on the issue and that of the government are identical. We have already sought support from the international community to resolve the crisis.”
“Yes, we are in some discomfort over the Rohingya issue, but it'll be resolved soon,” she said in reply to a question. Lt Col Faruk Khan, the ruling party’s former international affairs secretary and current presidium member, said the government was constantly trying to put pressure on Myanmar by lobbying with the international community. He also urged the Myanmar government to end the brutalities the Rohingyas were

encountering. After meeting foreign diplomats last week over the deepening of the Rohingyas crisis, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali said the situation in Myanmar would soon become normal and the people taking shelter in Bangladesh would be able to go back home without any fear of further violence and retaliation.
 On Wednesday, the foreign ministry summoned the Myanmar envoy in Dhaka and expressed concern over the issue, urging immediate steps to take back those Rohingyas who have crossed over to Bangladesh.
 Meanwhile, at a city programme yesterday, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow the fleeing Rohingyas to enter the country temporarily.
 In a joint meeting of his party at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, the JP chief said, “The government should allow shelter to Rohingya Muslims, who are living an inhuman life on the Naf river in trying to enter Bangladesh, on humanitarian grounds.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia urged the government to give temporary shelter to the Rohingyas.
 “Many Rohingya people are already staying in Bangladesh, which causes many problems. But, as a nation that had overcome mass killing to win freedom, Bnagladesh should give them as much shelter as possible,” she said.
 Khaleda also said that merely giving shelter would not resolve the problem. The countries involved must take diplomatic initiatives to rehabilitate the Rohingyas with safety and honour in their own country, she added.
 
Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court, seeking a directive to the government to allow fleeing Myanmar citizens enter Bangladesh.
 Advocate Abu Yahia Dulal filed the petition, praying for a temporary opening of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border so that “tortured Myanmar citizens can take shelter in Bangladesh”.
 He said in the petition that the repressed citizens of Myanmar should be allowed to enter Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds.
 The Myanmar army started a massive crackdown against the Rohingyas in Rakhine state after nine police officers were killed in three police outposts along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border on Oct 9.  The authorities have so far confirmed 86 deaths, saying 69 of the victims were suspected militants.
Rights groups, however, claim the number of Rohingyas killed to be much higher, many of them being civilians.  Hundreds of Rohingyas are trying to cross the border into Bangladesh amid escalating violence. The Myanmar government, however, denies that Rohingyas are fleeing due to its brutal crackdown.  The Myanmar army has declared the Muslim Rohingya-majority northern Rakhine to be an “operations zone”, where it claims to be battling Islamist insurgents.  Journalists have been prevented from visiting the area.
 Up to 30,000 people are estimated to have been displaced and thousands more affected by the recent fighting in Rakhine state, the UN has said.

Govt uncomfortable over Rohingya refugee crisis

BNP, JP, Hefazat for giving shelter to Muslims fleeing Myanmar

The Awami League (AL)-led government finds itself in a soup because of recent developments in the longstanding Rohingya crisis. The Sheikh Hasina administration has already sought international help to resolve the crisis in neighbouring Myanmar, where Rohingya Muslims are facing persecution and torture. Two major political partiesthe Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad)have already urged the Sheikh Hasina government to let fleeing Myanmar citizens enter Bangladesh. The Hefazat-e-Islam, one of the major Islamist groups, on Friday staged a huge demonstration in Dhaka, seeking a government directive for temporary entry of Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian grounds. When asked about the stance of the ruling Awami League on the Rohingya crisis, AL joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni yesterday said: Our partys stance on the issue and that of the government are identical. We have already sought support from the international community to resolve the crisis. Yes, we are in some discomfort over the Rohingya issue, but itll be resolved soon, she said in reply to a question. Lt Col Faruk Khan, the ruling partys former international affairs secretary and current presidium member, said the government was constantly trying to put pressure on Myanmar by lobbying with the international community. He also urged the Myanmar government to end the brutalities the Rohingyas were encountering. After meeting foreign diplomats last week over the deepening of the Rohingyas crisis, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali said the situation in Myanmar would soon become normal and the people taking shelter in Bangladesh would be able to go back home without any fear of further violence and retaliation. On Wednesday, the foreign ministry summoned the Myanmar envoy in Dhaka and expressed concern over the issue, urging immediate steps to take back those Rohingyas who have crossed over to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, at a city programme yesterday, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow the fleeing Rohingyas to enter the country temporarily. In a joint meeting of his party at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, the JP chief said, The government should allow shelter to Rohingya Muslims, who are living an inhuman life on the Naf river in trying to enter Bangladesh, on humanitarian grounds. In a statement issued on Sunday, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia urged the government to give temporary shelter to the Rohingyas. Many Rohingya people are already staying in Bangladesh, which causes many problems. But, as a nation that had overcome mass killing to win freedom, Bnagladesh should give them as much shelter as possible, she said. Khaleda also said that merely giving shelter would not resolve the problem. The countries involved must take diplomatic initiatives to rehabilitate the Rohingyas with safety and honour in their own country, she added. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court, seeking a directive to the government to allow fleeing Myanmar citizens enter Bangladesh. Advocate Abu Yahia Dulal filed the petition, praying for a temporary opening of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border so that tortured Myanmar citizens can take shelter in Bangladesh. He said in the petition that the repressed citizens of Myanmar should be allowed to enter Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds. The Myanmar army started a massive crackdown against the Rohingyas in Rakhine state after nine police officers were killed in three police outposts along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border on Oct 9. The authorities have so far confirmed 86 deaths, saying 69 of the victims were suspected militants. Rights groups, however, claim the number of Rohingyas killed to be much higher, many of them being civilians. Hundreds of Rohingyas are trying to cross the border into Bangladesh amid escalating violence. The Myanmar government, however, denies that Rohingyas are fleeing due to its brutal crackdown. The Myanmar army has declared the Muslim Rohingya-majority northern Rakhine to be an operations zone, where it claims to be battling Islamist insurgents. Journalists have been prevented from visiting the area. Up to 30,000 people are estimated to have been displaced and thousands more affected by the recent fighting in Rakhine state, the UN has said.