Int'l community needs to make united effort

Eminent citizens of the country yesterday called upon the international community to make a concerted effort immediately to bring an end to the persecution of  Rohingya in Myanmar, meet their basic human needs and repatriate them through diplomacy.

Following this year's fresh exodus, the number of Rohingya refugees -- including ones that started fleeing into Bangladesh since 1978 -- now stands at over eight lakhs, which is creating an enormous economic, political, social and environmental pressure on the country.

And in order to make the international community aware of such a volatile situation the country now faces, Bangladesh has to initiate strong diplomatic efforts, they said.

The noted citizens voiced their concern at a press conference organised by civil society platform Nagorik Samaj in the capital's Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

Welcoming the efforts being taken to tackle the present situation, they looked forward to a heightened cooperation in repatriating the refugees as advised by the report of the Kofi Anan Commission.

To overcome the crisis, the platform placed an 11-point recommendation before Bangladesh and other countries.

According to the United Nations, around 4,15,000 Rohingya have so far taken refuge in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar to flee the latest military persecution in Rakhine State of Myanmar.

The speakers said it is now imperative that Bangladesh ratify the UN Refugee Convention, considering the situation facing the country at present.

They demanded severe punishment to the perpetrators, especially the Myanmar army and police personnel, after trying them at international courts for committing crimes against humanity. 

Reading out a keynote paper, rights activist Sultana Kamal said Bangladesh government's position to take all necessary steps to ensure human rights of the Rohingya refugees in line with the country's capacity must be upheld.

“At the same time, every possible path of diplomatic initiative to repatriate them to their home country immediately must be pursued,” she added.

She acknowledged that ensuring security, proper registration, and providing food, drinking water, medical aid and sanitation facilities to the Rohingya refugees are already an immense challenge for the government.

To mitigate these challenges, “...the government, NGOs, international organisations, and different UN organisations will have to work together,” she added.

Economist Prof MM Akash made apprehension that the Rohingya issue might create a major and permanent security problem for the region unless a peaceful and respectable solution is reached. “International extremist groups might take advantage of the situation.”

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Rana Dasgupta said the government needs to be watchful whether members of militant groups are infiltrating into Bangladesh under the guise of refugees. 

Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, and ABM Shamsul Huda, executive director of Association for Land Reform and Development, among others, were present at the press conference.