Mahbubar Rahman :
“Ingratitude is treason to mankind”
– James Thomson
Having fallen victim to inexplicable persecutions, gang rapes, killings and arson by barbarian Myanmar army, surviving Rohingya population in Rakhine State of Myanmar ran breathlessly for safety draped in one cloth leaving their home and hearth behind at their homeland and entered Bangladesh territory in thousands on August 25, 2019. Notwithstanding the fact that Bangladesh had any obligation to give fleeing Rohingyas shelter in its territory, yet Bangladesh opened its border and gave shelter to Rohingyas in great distress purely on humanitarian ground.
Reasoning that a safe haven was in place across the border in Bangladesh territory, following entry of Rohingyas in few slots in August 2017, new and newer waves of Rohingyas started surging into the shore of Bangladesh territory through irresistible flood gates opened as stated on humanitarian grounds. Over months and years of Rohingya influx, Bangladesh territory at Teknaf, Ukhia and other adjoin areas under Cox’s Bazar district crowded with Rohingya population with more than a million in numbers. With lush green area of hills & hillocks of sublime beauty, Teknaf and Ukhia soon turned into an area filled in shanties of Rohingya diaspora thus relegating the picturesque surrounding of the area in the recesses of only past memories.
Despite all these symptoms of negativism, government of Bangladesh with its population of kind nature stood beside Rohingyas with its available resources and mobilized international community to come up in helps for Rohingyas in distress.
Army backed Myanmar government with Aung San Suu Kyi — a noble laureate by chance and once a darling of democracy and human rights as branded by the western world, gave just a blind look and deaf ears to Rohingya genocide unleashed by the barbaric Myanmar army. Even the western world who showered Aung San Suu Kyi with adulation and praises earlier for her long battle against military rule and struggle for human rights and democracy in Myanmar felt utterly disturbed and disappointed for Suu Kyi being transformed into an essential abettor of crime and genocide in Myanmar. Few western institutes including Oxford University, where Aung San Suu Kyi earned a niche, stripped off their medals from Suu Kyi’s collar and removed her picture from the hall of fame as a mark of protest for her total reticence on burning Rohingya issues and tacitly siding with Myanmar’s military junta. Despites the fact that once awarded, Nobel Prize cannot be revoked or retracted, voices were raised across the world to strip off her Nobel prize for her giving perpetual blank look on Rohingya persecution and genocide in Myanmar. Her total inaction on Rohingya issue clearly testifies that her earlier struggles for democracy and human rights were nothing but eye wash with staging a drama to gain sympathy of the western countries and grab political power in Myanmar through democratic dispensation. She got a landslide victory in Myanmar’s military backed democratic election only to become stooge and her being consigned to a given higher echelon from where she can only play the role of her master’s voice.
With the unbearable load of eleven lacs Rohingyas including about one lac new birth in the camp over a couple of years, Bangladesh left no stones unturned to come directly to the aid and help of Rohingyas with mobilising the opinion and action of international community to make Myanmar government understand that the Rohingya problem has been created by Myanmar, not by Bangladesh. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Myanmar government to create a situation conducive to safe return of Rohingyas to their homeland. Calls of Bangladesh and the international community have only fallen on deaf ear of arrogant military junta in Myanmar as it clearly depicts from the circumstantial evidences.
However, Bangladesh government’s all out sincere efforts with combined help of NGO’s both local and international, Rohingyas got their safe footings in refugee camps. Providing Rohingyas with a guaranteed living with foods and other necessities of life, with a view to mitigating pressure on land of Ukhiya and Teknaf, in one stage Bangladesh government decided to relocate a sizeable one lac numbers of Rohingyas to Bashanchar area with creating adequate housing and other infrastructural facilities. At the passage of time Rogingyas have no longer stayed innocent and docile and, presumably, by the instigation of possible vested quarters and NGO’s abruptly turned disobedient and declined to go to Bhasanchar after vacating the land at Ukhiya and Teknaf, which they never own as a matter of rights, as being displaced Myanmar people. After years of negotiations and dialogues with Myanmar government, two dates were fixed recently for their repatriation and unfortunately both the consecutive dates for repatriation ended in fiasco for Rohingyas’ repeatedly exhibiting arrogance and defiance to go back to their homeland.
Instead, Rohingyas, having being fuelled, presumably, by some unscrupulous NGO’s organised a big rally at Kutupalong camp on August 25, 2019 with digital banner and placards written in English pressing their five points demand including demand for their citizenship in Myanmar; without fulfillment of which, as Rohingya activists, in fiery speech, declared that they were not going back to Rakhine anymore. Placing five points demand with Myanmar is nothing wrong in its content and substance, although to their great misfortune, Rohingyas have never been Myanmar citizen since 1962 when their rights for citizenship was stripped off by the military junta by a constitutional amendment.It does not matter much to Bangladesh if Rohingyas get back their Myanmar citizenship or not, but it does obviously matter with concern if they are eligible to make a showdown in Bangladesh soil with displaced peoples’ status. Moreover, it demands an investigation how a Rohingya activist named Mr. Mohibullah makes his way to meet the U.S. President Donald Trump with exit and entry to Bangladesh with passport or without passport. It further demands investigation as to who provided Mr. Mohibullah with travel documents for exist and entry into Bangladesh territory with his status as a displaced person.
It is learned, of late, with great concern that Rohingya refugees carry about eight lacs mobile phone with quite substantial internet connections using Android, Iphone and Smart Phone well enough for global connectivity. Question arises as to who provides Rohingyas with such upgraded version of cell phones and how they obtain mobile SIM cards with their displaced people’s status in the refugee camps. This obviously calls for security concern for Bangladesh and demands a thorough investigation with immediately withdrawing all mobile networking system in the refugee camps where they are not given shelter for any fanfare or holidaying with indiscriminate use of mobile phone and internet service for infinite time, but to go back to their homeland as soon as possible. Further, Rohingyas are reported to have been indulging in the spree of possessing Bangladeshi passport by illegal and fraudulent means which is much disturbing in deed and warrants urgent investigation with all punitive measure to stop it with immediate effect.
As far as Bangladesh is concerned, Bangladesh has no business to deal in the so called five-point demand of Rohingyas in Bangladesh soil. Bangladesh has done enough for Rohingyas so far and still bears the sympathy for this displaced community and moving tirelessly from pillar to post so that Bangladesh can send back this displaced community to their homeland in Rakhine safely and at the same time can be relieved of the unbearable load of Rohingyas crouched on Bangladesh’s shoulders like dead albatross.
It is much disheartening to note that in the rally attended by more than a half million Rohingyas, no voice was reported to have been raised to thank or express their gratitude to Bangladesh for helping them stay alive with food and shelter by spending Tk. 2000 crore per month from Bangladesh’s coffer. It is true that international communities have promised USD 900 million, out of which only 34% have been disbursed so far. Therefore, Rohingyas’ claims, that often reportedly heard in loud voice, that they are living with NGO’s help with no mention of Bangladesh’s ceaseless help with gratitude; tantamount to utter disregard and ungratefulness of the displaced community and as such stands futile with carrying absolutely no sense of civilly. Having rightly reckoned the gravity of the situation, of late, Bangladesh has reportedly barred 41 NGO from their activities appeared to have been doubtful inside the camps.
Whatsoever may be the situation if the Rohingyas who, by their track record are involved in drug trafficking, violence and other criminal activities; express their gratitude to Bangladesh or not; the ground reality, in loud and clear term, is that these Rohingyas must go back to their homeland that they are rooted in, as soon as possible. Their presence in the soil of Bangladesh for indefinite time, is suffocating for all Bangladeshi citizen. If the self-preservation is the first law of nature then Bangladesh must think of its own citizens’ rights and welfare first without wasting time with ungrateful Rohingyas who are becoming defiant and violent day by day thereby posing threat to Bangladesh’s peace and progress.
On ingratitude, Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) once said: “Most people returns small favours acknowledge medium ones and repay greater one with ingratitude.” Rohingyas’ by their deeds, seemingly are repaying Bangladesh’s unwavering favour with vile ingratitude.
(Mahbubar Rahman is a former civil servant)
“Ingratitude is treason to mankind”
– James Thomson
Having fallen victim to inexplicable persecutions, gang rapes, killings and arson by barbarian Myanmar army, surviving Rohingya population in Rakhine State of Myanmar ran breathlessly for safety draped in one cloth leaving their home and hearth behind at their homeland and entered Bangladesh territory in thousands on August 25, 2019. Notwithstanding the fact that Bangladesh had any obligation to give fleeing Rohingyas shelter in its territory, yet Bangladesh opened its border and gave shelter to Rohingyas in great distress purely on humanitarian ground.
Reasoning that a safe haven was in place across the border in Bangladesh territory, following entry of Rohingyas in few slots in August 2017, new and newer waves of Rohingyas started surging into the shore of Bangladesh territory through irresistible flood gates opened as stated on humanitarian grounds. Over months and years of Rohingya influx, Bangladesh territory at Teknaf, Ukhia and other adjoin areas under Cox’s Bazar district crowded with Rohingya population with more than a million in numbers. With lush green area of hills & hillocks of sublime beauty, Teknaf and Ukhia soon turned into an area filled in shanties of Rohingya diaspora thus relegating the picturesque surrounding of the area in the recesses of only past memories.
Despite all these symptoms of negativism, government of Bangladesh with its population of kind nature stood beside Rohingyas with its available resources and mobilized international community to come up in helps for Rohingyas in distress.
Army backed Myanmar government with Aung San Suu Kyi — a noble laureate by chance and once a darling of democracy and human rights as branded by the western world, gave just a blind look and deaf ears to Rohingya genocide unleashed by the barbaric Myanmar army. Even the western world who showered Aung San Suu Kyi with adulation and praises earlier for her long battle against military rule and struggle for human rights and democracy in Myanmar felt utterly disturbed and disappointed for Suu Kyi being transformed into an essential abettor of crime and genocide in Myanmar. Few western institutes including Oxford University, where Aung San Suu Kyi earned a niche, stripped off their medals from Suu Kyi’s collar and removed her picture from the hall of fame as a mark of protest for her total reticence on burning Rohingya issues and tacitly siding with Myanmar’s military junta. Despites the fact that once awarded, Nobel Prize cannot be revoked or retracted, voices were raised across the world to strip off her Nobel prize for her giving perpetual blank look on Rohingya persecution and genocide in Myanmar. Her total inaction on Rohingya issue clearly testifies that her earlier struggles for democracy and human rights were nothing but eye wash with staging a drama to gain sympathy of the western countries and grab political power in Myanmar through democratic dispensation. She got a landslide victory in Myanmar’s military backed democratic election only to become stooge and her being consigned to a given higher echelon from where she can only play the role of her master’s voice.
With the unbearable load of eleven lacs Rohingyas including about one lac new birth in the camp over a couple of years, Bangladesh left no stones unturned to come directly to the aid and help of Rohingyas with mobilising the opinion and action of international community to make Myanmar government understand that the Rohingya problem has been created by Myanmar, not by Bangladesh. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Myanmar government to create a situation conducive to safe return of Rohingyas to their homeland. Calls of Bangladesh and the international community have only fallen on deaf ear of arrogant military junta in Myanmar as it clearly depicts from the circumstantial evidences.
However, Bangladesh government’s all out sincere efforts with combined help of NGO’s both local and international, Rohingyas got their safe footings in refugee camps. Providing Rohingyas with a guaranteed living with foods and other necessities of life, with a view to mitigating pressure on land of Ukhiya and Teknaf, in one stage Bangladesh government decided to relocate a sizeable one lac numbers of Rohingyas to Bashanchar area with creating adequate housing and other infrastructural facilities. At the passage of time Rogingyas have no longer stayed innocent and docile and, presumably, by the instigation of possible vested quarters and NGO’s abruptly turned disobedient and declined to go to Bhasanchar after vacating the land at Ukhiya and Teknaf, which they never own as a matter of rights, as being displaced Myanmar people. After years of negotiations and dialogues with Myanmar government, two dates were fixed recently for their repatriation and unfortunately both the consecutive dates for repatriation ended in fiasco for Rohingyas’ repeatedly exhibiting arrogance and defiance to go back to their homeland.
Instead, Rohingyas, having being fuelled, presumably, by some unscrupulous NGO’s organised a big rally at Kutupalong camp on August 25, 2019 with digital banner and placards written in English pressing their five points demand including demand for their citizenship in Myanmar; without fulfillment of which, as Rohingya activists, in fiery speech, declared that they were not going back to Rakhine anymore. Placing five points demand with Myanmar is nothing wrong in its content and substance, although to their great misfortune, Rohingyas have never been Myanmar citizen since 1962 when their rights for citizenship was stripped off by the military junta by a constitutional amendment.It does not matter much to Bangladesh if Rohingyas get back their Myanmar citizenship or not, but it does obviously matter with concern if they are eligible to make a showdown in Bangladesh soil with displaced peoples’ status. Moreover, it demands an investigation how a Rohingya activist named Mr. Mohibullah makes his way to meet the U.S. President Donald Trump with exit and entry to Bangladesh with passport or without passport. It further demands investigation as to who provided Mr. Mohibullah with travel documents for exist and entry into Bangladesh territory with his status as a displaced person.
It is learned, of late, with great concern that Rohingya refugees carry about eight lacs mobile phone with quite substantial internet connections using Android, Iphone and Smart Phone well enough for global connectivity. Question arises as to who provides Rohingyas with such upgraded version of cell phones and how they obtain mobile SIM cards with their displaced people’s status in the refugee camps. This obviously calls for security concern for Bangladesh and demands a thorough investigation with immediately withdrawing all mobile networking system in the refugee camps where they are not given shelter for any fanfare or holidaying with indiscriminate use of mobile phone and internet service for infinite time, but to go back to their homeland as soon as possible. Further, Rohingyas are reported to have been indulging in the spree of possessing Bangladeshi passport by illegal and fraudulent means which is much disturbing in deed and warrants urgent investigation with all punitive measure to stop it with immediate effect.
As far as Bangladesh is concerned, Bangladesh has no business to deal in the so called five-point demand of Rohingyas in Bangladesh soil. Bangladesh has done enough for Rohingyas so far and still bears the sympathy for this displaced community and moving tirelessly from pillar to post so that Bangladesh can send back this displaced community to their homeland in Rakhine safely and at the same time can be relieved of the unbearable load of Rohingyas crouched on Bangladesh’s shoulders like dead albatross.
It is much disheartening to note that in the rally attended by more than a half million Rohingyas, no voice was reported to have been raised to thank or express their gratitude to Bangladesh for helping them stay alive with food and shelter by spending Tk. 2000 crore per month from Bangladesh’s coffer. It is true that international communities have promised USD 900 million, out of which only 34% have been disbursed so far. Therefore, Rohingyas’ claims, that often reportedly heard in loud voice, that they are living with NGO’s help with no mention of Bangladesh’s ceaseless help with gratitude; tantamount to utter disregard and ungratefulness of the displaced community and as such stands futile with carrying absolutely no sense of civilly. Having rightly reckoned the gravity of the situation, of late, Bangladesh has reportedly barred 41 NGO from their activities appeared to have been doubtful inside the camps.
Whatsoever may be the situation if the Rohingyas who, by their track record are involved in drug trafficking, violence and other criminal activities; express their gratitude to Bangladesh or not; the ground reality, in loud and clear term, is that these Rohingyas must go back to their homeland that they are rooted in, as soon as possible. Their presence in the soil of Bangladesh for indefinite time, is suffocating for all Bangladeshi citizen. If the self-preservation is the first law of nature then Bangladesh must think of its own citizens’ rights and welfare first without wasting time with ungrateful Rohingyas who are becoming defiant and violent day by day thereby posing threat to Bangladesh’s peace and progress.
On ingratitude, Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) once said: “Most people returns small favours acknowledge medium ones and repay greater one with ingratitude.” Rohingyas’ by their deeds, seemingly are repaying Bangladesh’s unwavering favour with vile ingratitude.
(Mahbubar Rahman is a former civil servant)
