Int’l community not doing enough for Rohingyas

International communities are not doing as much as they should about the Rohingyas and their repatriation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said in an interview with the BBC.

In the interview that took place during her visit to the UK earlier this month, she also talked about the US sanctions on the Rab, rights abuses and the upcoming election.

BBC Bangla service published a story on the interview on its website yesterday.

Queried why the US slapped sanctions on the Rab, the prime minister said, "The force on which they imposed sanctions was formed on their advice in 2004. They arranged for its training and logistics. The way they wanted it to be formed and the way they wanted it to function, it has been working accordingly. Then why did they slap the sanctions?"

Pressed further, she said maybe they don't want her to stay in power, or maybe they don't want the progress her government has made to continue.

Hasina claimed that Bangladesh has made outstanding strides during her rule in the last 14 years.

In a statement in parliament last month, she stated that the United States wants a regime change in Bangladesh.

Asked if there is any evidence to back up the statement, the prime minister  said, "It's a question to me as well. Why did they slap the sanctions? When the law enforcement agencies are working to tackle terrorism … when measures are being taken against the human rights abusers and in support of the victims, they have sided with the abusers, not with the victims."

When the interviewer cited the concerns voiced by the Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, the UN and others over human rights abuses, Hasina said, "They could not prove anything. I don't know what conspiracy is afoot internationally."

Asked why they would want to unseat her, she said, "They have killed my father. Those plotters, who killed my family, even my 10-year-old brother, don't want anyone from this family to come to power."

The BBC also wanted to know about the allegations made by the opposition that she wants to stay in power without election. To that, Hasina said, "Of course, not. I have fought for election and the people's right to vote. I have fought against the military rulers all my life. Only we have enacted laws to form an election commission. We always want a fair and free election."

About a Transparency International report that found irregularities in 47 out of 50 constituencies surveyed during the last election, the premier said, "Could they prove that? Where is the evidence? I want to see it.

"I am frankly saying that I have doubts over their [TIB] transparency."

About the Rohingya repatriation, Hasina said, "At meetings, they say they [Rohingyas] should go back. But they are actually not doing anything positive to that end. Why? This is my question too."