67,000 Rohingyas crossed border since Oct 8
Around 67,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh since October 8 last year due to sectarian unrest, the anti-Muslim policy of the Myanmar government and an adverse socio-economic condition in Rakhine, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told parliament yesterday.
During the same period, Bangladesh pushed back at least 5,316 Rohingyas into Myanmar, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan informed the House.
In a scripted answer, the foreign minister said Bangladesh had been working relentlessly to solve the long-standing Rohingya refugee issue.
“We are continuing talks with the Myanmar government and the UNHCR to send the refugees back home.”
Repatriation of Myanmar refugees did not take place since 2005 due to unwillingness of the Myanmar government, he added.
In another scripted answer, the home minister said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stepped up patrols on the border and monitoring the activities of unidentified people through contacting locals to stop the Rohingyas from entering Bangladesh.
Replying to a supplementary question, Asaduzzaman said no terrorists of the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) would be allowed to use Bangladesh's territory for carrying out criminal activities.
“The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made it clear that no one would be allowed to use Bangladesh's territory for militant and terrorist activities.”
Responding to another supplementary question from a lawmaker, the home minister said the government suspended a cop on charges of assaulting two journalists in the capital's Shahbagh on January 26.
A three-member probe committee, led by an additional superintendent of police, has been formed to probe the incident. The government will take necessary actions against the assaulters after receiving the investigation report, he added.
Comments