Accusing the government of having failed to ensure proper management to tackle Rohingya crisis, BNP on Sunday called upon it to engage army for the proper distribution of relief materials among Rohingya refugees.
At a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, the party also urged the government to forge a national unity instead of doing politics and indulging in mudslinging to give humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas and tackle the situation.
“Myanmar has launched an onslaught on humanity by carrying out persecution on its own citizens Rohingya in Rakhine state and forcing them to leave their country. The UNDP chief here has told me the number of Rohingya refugees crossed one million, creating a perilous situation,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He said, the government should have taken steps to unite the entire nation and create a national unity through discussions with all political parties, professional bodies and others carry out relief activities to face the serious challenge. “Instead of doing it, the government has unfairly obstructed BNP to carry out relief activities. It has manifested that the government’s efforts to give Rohingyas relief and other assistance mere eyewash. “We’ve so far seen there’s no management there (Rohingya camps) and, the government is unable to face the problem,” the BNP leader said
Fakhrul said, the government should immediately engage in talks with political parties to involve the people of all walks of life to tackle the serious problem. “At the same time, we think the government should intensify its diplomatic efforts further to force the Myanmar authorities to take back Rohingyas with dignity.”
He urged Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader to focus on facing Rohingya stopping mud sliding.
The BNP leader said, their party had successfully tackled Rohingya problems in 1978 and 1992 forcing Myanmar to take back Rohingyas.
Fakhrul said their party wants to cooperate with the government to tackle the situation by forging a national unity instead of doing politics over the issue and dividing nation.
He also suggested the Prime Minister to visit India and China or send any delegation there to convince them to help Bangladesh solve the problem.
Speaking at the press conference, BNP standing committee member and its relief committee convener Mirza Abbas narrated how the government obstructed them from Going to Ukiah in Cox’s Bazar with 22 trucks loaded with relief materials for Rohingyas.
He said, though BNP was barred from carrying out relief activities, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad was not only allowed to distribute relief but also hold a rally there. “We strongly condemn the government’s attitude of double standard.”
The BNP leader alleged that though different organisations are carrying out relief activities in the Rohingya camps, the ruling party has no visible such effort there.
He said, they have found allegation that ruling party men are ‘looting’ cash and valuables of the hapless Rohingyas and extorting them by giving shelter on hills and in open spaces. Abbas said Ukhia Upazila Awami League’s freedom fighter affairs secretary was arrested and sent to jail for extorting money from Rohingyas in such a manner.
He alleged that the AL general secretary has been making indecent remarks on BNP’s efforts to provide Rohingyas with relief materials only to hide the government’s offence to deny it carrying out relief activities.
The BNP leader said the government has so far failed to reach any relief material to Rohingya camps. “The government is deceiving the hapless Rohingya by giving only hollow statements over the issue for greeting popularity instead of sending relief materials for them.”
Abbas said Rohingya refugees are going through immense sufferings due to indifference and mismanagement by local administration to properly distribute the relief materials sent by different organisations.
Under the circumstances, “We urge the Prime Minister to deploy army for properly distributing all the relief materials and donations given by local and international groups and institutions, and rehabilitate them.”
On behalf of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the party, Abbas also called upon all to work for humanity regardless of party and opinion, and politics over the issue.
