Act now to ensure peace for Rohingyas

President Abdul Hamid yesterday called upon the OIC members to take immediate action to ensure a peaceful life of Rohingyas with justified rights.

He was addressing a state dinner hosted by him in honour of OIC foreign ministers, now in Dhaka to join the 45th Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.

“For the members of the OIC, the time to act is now -- to ensure a just and peaceful life in their homeland for Rohingya Muslim brothers who are discriminated, oppressed and victims of systematic persecution,” the president said.

Mentioning the Rohingya influx as a formidable challenge, Hamid said, “We are now faced with a formidable challenge of the influx of more than 1.1 million Rohingyas from neighbouring Myanmar. The Rohingya Muslims, an ancient ethnic community in Myanmar and currently the largest group of stateless people in the world, have been at risk for decades.”

Describing the latest episode of violence in Rakhine as a sharp escalation of long-running, state-led persecution and attacks on the Rohingya population, the president said what has been happening in Myanmar not only represents a clear violation of core International Human Rights treaties, but also shows a burning example of ethnic cleansing.

He appreciated OIC members' efforts to promote the just cause for Rohingyas. He also lauded the OIC's continued role in remaining engaged for justice for Palestinians.

The president said the OIC also needs urgently to build solid economic structures for a more concrete solidarity in development sector -- aiming at the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Stressing the need for strengthening the solidarity for peace and development, Hamid said the OIC has gone through various experiences and efforts to consolidate and conceptualise the idea of solidarity since its inception.

He also said the OIC has to look forward and enhance its effectiveness to cater to the aspirations of about 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. The motto of “Solidarity in Action” as adopted in 2005 needs to be re-invigorated to bring peace and development in the Muslim world as the world is challenged by conflict and Islamophobia, he observed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Secretary-General of OIC Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen and OIC foreign ministers and secretaries concerned were present.