Terming the Rohingya crisis a national one, opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday said it wants a national unity to face the problem instead of doing politic over the issue.
“We don’t want to do politics over the Rohingya issue. We think it’s a national crisis and we’ll have to tackle the situation uniting the entire nation,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He came up with the comments while speaking at a discussion programme arranged by BNP at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s 10th ‘jail release’ day.
The BNP leader said though the government had been playing a silent role over the Rohingya issue, it has now become vocal on the matter as the world community started reacting to it and putting pressure on Myanmar.
Making their party’s position clear on the issue, Fakhrul said BNP wants Rohingyas to be given shelter for a temporary period, not permanently, on humanitarian grounds. “Give them food and shelter, and force the Myanmar government to take back its citizens.”
He alleged that sending its citizens to Bangladesh by repressing them is an act of aggression by Myanmar against the country’s independence and sovereignty. “The government should take all necessary diplomatic efforts to force Myanmar to take back Rohingyas ensuring their dignity and citizenship.”
The BNP leader said the government and its aides have again started a false campaign against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman as people are now taking preparation for the next general election. “There’ll be no use of carrying out propaganda against our leader (Khaleda) since people have given her a place in their hearts.”
He alleged that the way Myanmar government is eliminating the Rohingyas, the same way the government is annihilating democratic forces in Bangladesh.
Fakhrul alleged that the government is eliminating those who are taking position in favour of democracy and people in a planned way.
Source: Prothom Alo
