Discussants at a roundtable said Bangladesh has been an utter failure in diplomatically handling the Rohingya issue.
They also said the atrocities inflicted on Rohingyas meet all conditions for genocide.
Shujan (Citizens for Good Governance), a civil society organisation, organised the roundtable, ‘Rohingya Crisis: Context, Current Situation and Possible Solution’, at the National Press Club on Thursday morning.
Politician SM Akram said, “We have diplomatically failed on the Rohingya issue. Those whom we consider our friend countries, have not stood by us.”
Shujan secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said there are ten conditions for genocide. All of these conditions are met in the incidence of Rohingyas fleeing in thousands to Bangladesh following the crackdown by the Myanmar army in the Rakhine state since 25 August.
Former cabinet secretary and executive member of Shujan Ali Imam Majumder said the Rohingya crisis may exacerbate further in the future. The attention of the international community may be diverted, he pointed out, saying it will be difficult to bear the pressure of one million Rohingya refugees.
Ali Imam Majumder said, “Vested quarters may instigate the persecuted Rohingyas to extremism. As a result, the entire region may become unstable.”
Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said after Bangladesh’s Independence in 1971, such a crisis like Rohingyas did not emerge in Bangladesh.
“We notice irresponsibility inside the government in handling the issue, which is not expected,” Maksud said.
Professor of international relations at Dhaka University CR Abrar said there is no necessity to rehabilitate Rohingyas in Vasanchar and Balurchar.
Human rights activist Hamida Hossain, former adviser to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, former ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad and Nagorik Samaj (citizen society) convener Bahauddin Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the programme.
Source: http://en.prothom-alo.com/
Updated On: Oct 12, 201