Why no motion in parliament to condemn Myanmar? BNP asks PM

The BNP has come down hard on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for not moving any motion in Parliament condemning the Myanmar government over the persecution of Rohingyas.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 Sept 2017, 04:12 PM
Updated : 12 Sept 2017, 04:12 PM

“You have passed a motion to mount pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas but you have not condemned them for the genocide and ethnic cleansing.

“We condemn you for this lack of courage,” Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a event organised by the BNP’s youth wing on Tuesday.

The parliament passed a motion on Monday in a desperate attempt to mount diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingya refugees and ensure their safety by giving them citizenship.

Prime Minister Hasina flew to Cox's Bazar on Tuesday and then travelled by road to the Kutupalong refugee camp in bordering Teknaf.

“With a large convoy, the prime minister took a trip to Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar and distributed some aid there. We are happy to see her finally having some realisations.”

Almost 313,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar army unleashed a ‘clearance operation’ in Rakhine State in response to attacks by Muslims insurgents on 30 security posts on Aug 25.

Bangladesh had already been sheltering nearly half a million Rohingya people who over the past decades have fled persecution in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “The foreign  minister of Indonesia and Turkish first lady have already visited them. A human rights delegation from the UN is on the way.

“Now that the world is against Myanmar and the UN secretary general has also directed its Security Council to take action against Myanmar government to stop the genocide, you have flown to Ukhia,” said the BNP stalwart.

The government still seems indecisive over the Rohingya issue, he added.

He slammed the ruling Awami League for the role it played when Myanmar had laid landmines near the border.

“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia deployed army at the border when Rohingyas started crossing into our country in the same manner back in 1992.

“She said 'I will have no other option but to use army if you do not stop’ and Myanmar government did give in and took back the Rohingyas,” the leader said.

BNP founder Ziaur Rahman made a pact in 1978 and repatriated the Rohingyas, he noted.

Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged a discussion marking 10th jail release day of Khaleda and BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh on Tuesday.