Continue pressure for Rohingya repatriation

Civil Society members and NGOs yesterday demanded that the government continue pressure on the international community to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

At a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, they urged the government to empower Rohingya refugees with human dignity and put pressure on the international community to ensure trial of Myanmar Army in international court.

There are more than 68 million people around the world who are displaced from their homes due to conflict, persecution and natural disasters, said Mostafa Kamal Akonda, assistant director (HRM and DRR) of COAST.

He said around 10 lakh Rohingya refugees took shelter in Bangladesh after being persecuted in Myanmar and to be saved from ethnic cleansing by Myanmar Army. The influx of Rohingyas has caused short and long term crises in Bangladesh, he added.

Bangladesh is doing its part but it is a global crisis and the international community will have to take responsibility as well, he said.

COAST TRUST and Cox's Bazar CSO NGO Forum organised the human chain  to mark World Refugee Day (today).

Khondokar Abdus Salam, programme coordinator of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, demanded that the United Nations take immediate steps to repatriate Rohingya refugees.

Ethnic cleansing in Myanmar and Rohingya deportation through Myanmar-Bangladesh border are still going on, said president of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, ASM Badrul Alam.

AHM Bazlur Rahman, CEO of Bangladesh NGOs Network Radio and Communication, said there are around 10 lakh refugees in different camps who can prove to be productive if they receive employment opportunities.