Let's share the refugee burden

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday urged the governments of other countries to take the responsibility of Rohingyas as Bangladesh is already burdened with the influx of those forced migrants from Myanmar.

 “Every country should come forward to share the disaster of Rohingyas. Bearing the burden of Rohingya influx only by Bangladesh is almost impossible,” the minister said while he was exchanging greetings with journalists after Eid at his secretariat office in Dhaka.

The government has been treating the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds as they are now in helpless state because of atrocities by the Myanmar government on the religious minority people, said Tofail.

The global leaders should also show their humanity on the Rohingyas. However, Bangladesh has the limitation to accommodate Rohingyas as the influx of such helpless people has been continuing over the last few days.

The inflow of Rohingyas is so high that only on Tuesday more than 35,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh, although thousands of Rohingyas have already been accommodated in Cox's Bazar, the entry point of Rohingyas from Myanmar.

The Myanmar government should take back their citizens from Bangladesh and peace should be established in Arakan State of Myanmar, the minister said.

Replying to a query of journalists, Tofail said time has not come yet to cut off trade relations with Myanmar as did the Maldives.

Rather, the minister said the issue of severing trade relations with Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis, is a very big issue. The minister did not elaborate further.

He criticised the role of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in Rohingya crisis. The minister called upon the global leaders to put pressure on Myanmar government to stop the ongoing genocide on Rohingyas.

No civilised nation supports such genocide, said the minister, adding that Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives and Turkey had already expressed concern on Rohingya issue.