DHAKA: BNP’s senior leaders and some of civil society members at a roundtable discussion have said that setting up a so-called ‘safe zone’ is not solution to Rohingya crisis. But such ‘safe zone’ will be more terrible for the Rohingyas.
The party arranged the roundtable discussion on “Genocide in Myanmar and the Role of Bangladesh” at a hotel in the city on Sunday (September 25).
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the function, while the party’s standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairmen Murshed Khan and Advocate Joynul Abedin, BNP chairperson’s advisers Reaz Rahman and Sukomol Barua took part in the discussion.
Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed, convener of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna, teachers of Dhaka University Prof Dr Mahbub Ullah and Prof Dr Asif Nazrul and several others members of civil society joined the function as invited guests.
Former ambassador Md Sirajul Islam presented the keynote paper in the roundtable.
Besides, diplomats from several countries in Dhaka, including UK, European Union, Maldives, Nepal, France, South Africa, Netherlands and Pakistan, also attended the seminar. Some of the foreign diplomats took part in the discussion.
The BNP leaders raised question over the proposal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the UN for setting up a ‘safe zone’ for Rohingyas under the supervision of the United Nations. Setting up a so-called ‘safe zone’ is not solution, rather more terrible
They said that the Myanmar government is committing genocide against Rohingyas in Rakhine State. The prime minister neither accused Myanmar of carrying out genocide against Rohingyas nor condemned the country. It was unexpected, they added.
Mirza Fakhrul said that the prime minister could not present the main problem before the world leaders. Sheikh Hasina should have accused Myanmar of genocide and asked the international community to slap economic sanctions on the country to force it to stop the genocide and take back Rohingya refugees.
The speakers said that the government should take steps to mount international pressure on Myanmar to take back its citizens who have taken shelter in Bangladesh as refugees.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina while delivering address at the 72nd UNGA session on Friday placed five proposals for solution of the Rohingya crisis including setting up safe zones inside Myanmar under the supervision of the UN for protection of Myanmar citizens irrespective of religion and ethnicity.
BDST: 2115 HRS, SEP 24, 2017
EHJ
