Professor Dr. Anwarul Karim :
Time is first running out and the world body must urge Myanmar to take back Rohingyas. How long do we stand as a mute observer when Rohingyas men, women and children are being killed every day? Bangladesh has done her job more than any country by providing shelter and sharing pains and sufferings. Of late, the government has taken the Rohingya agenda seriously.
The condition of relief camps is not healthy because of pressure of refugees. It is feared that the exodus might exceed 10 lakhs this year if the influx continues. It would be unbearable on the part of Bangladesh to feed the teeming Rohingyas when her own people remain unfed. Very recently, the country faced severe floods. Thousands of acres of agricultural land along with country home of village people went under water causing damage to cattle and crop. The victims needed relief. Still the victims could not rebuild their houses. Everything washed away.
We thank India for their late support to the Rohingya people urging Myanmar government to take back the refugees changing their earlier stand. We deeply appreciate and thank Momota Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal for her boldness and courage to come to the side of the poor Rohingyas. Indeed, she had the guts of facing the crucial situation when humanity is dying. Now is the time for all and sundry, irrespective of states and government’s caste, creed and race to stand beside these poor Rohngyas with their children and babies dying before us.
How can we take food and sleep peacefully when death reigns over the poor Rohingyas. Can we not force Myanmar? Why Russia, China are silent? What do they want? They too are human beings. They are the big powers. Judge who is right and who is wrong save human beings. In my young age, I experienced a sing when Rome was burning, Nero was playing on violin. Is Suu Kyi acting as did Nero to his people? Nothing moves her.
Rohingyas are not outsiders. For long they had been living in the country. The history speaks that they lived during the time of East India Company who gave them the title ‘Rohingya’. Bangladesh too has such type of outsiders from Myanmar also. They are Tibeto-Burman and have been living in Chittagong Hill Tracts. We have Sandals who came from Santal Pargana in India to work for railways during the British. The Chakma people came from Burma, presently Myanmar and Tippera in India in the 17th century. We have Mongoloid and Austroloid and Negroid tribes in our country to work for railways.
Should the country expel them as Mayanmar is doing ? Take lesson from history. The Aryans are also outsiders to our country who originally hailed from Scandinavian country (old Germany) and settled themselves in Central Asia, the present Iran. The Hindus in India still claim that Muslims are outsiders to India and Bangladesh. Then who are the original settlers. Who are the Myanmars themselves? What blood do they represent?
We equally voice with UN Chief when Antonio Gutierrez, the Secretary General asks Myanmar, Give Rohingyas their rightful citizenship and try if it is so demanded that they committed crime.
(Poofessor Karim teaches in a private university in Dhaka)
