Act right now for permanent solution to Rohingya refugee crisis: Hasina to UN

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the United Nations and the international community to take immediate effective steps for the permanent solution to Rohingyas, who fled to Bangladesh fearing persecution in Myanmar.

The premier made the call while addressing the 72nd United Nations General Assembly on Thursday evening at New York local time (Bangladesh time Friday morning).

She also presented some specific proposals for the permanent solution to the ongoing Rohingya crisis at the UN assembly. Those are:

-- Myanmar must unconditionally stop the violence and ethnic cleansing in Rakhine state immediately and permanently.

-- Sending an investigative team of the United Nations Secretary General to Myanmar immediately.

-- Ensuring safety for all the citizens, irrespective of race and religion, and building a security zone in Myanmar under the supervision of UN.

-- Make sure the safe return and rehabilitation of all Rohingyas, who were forced to drive out from Rakhine state, safely and securely with dignity.

-- Unconditional implementation of the Kofi Annan Commission recommendations.

Addressing her speech in Bengali, she said it was the 14th time she was addressing the UN General Assembly, but this time she came with a heavy heart just after seeing the "hungry, distressed and hopeless Rohingyas" who took shelter in Bangladesh fleeing persecution in their country.

"Hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas from the Rakhine State are entering Bangladesh to flee violence. As estimated by IOM, in last three weeks over four lakh thirty thousand Rohingyas entered Bangladesh," she said.

They are fleeing 'ethnic cleansing' in their own country where they have been living for centuries, she said adding that Bangladesh is currently sheltering over 800,000 Rohingyas.

 She also alleged that Myanmar authorities are laying landmines in their territory along their border so that Rohingyas cannot return to their native homes.