BNP accuses govt of obstruction

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government had obstructed the party's central relief team from visiting Cox's Bazar's Ukhia to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees there.

“We’ve received information that the Ukhia administration has barred our central relief team along with our 20 truckloads of relief materials, from visiting the spot,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the party.

He made the allegation at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 10th jail release day of the party's Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Police also cordoned off BNP's office in Cox's Bazar, said Fakhrul, alleging the incident had unveiled that the Awami League-led government was not actually with the persecuted community. The AL claimed that they had stood by the Rohingyas, but it was "an eyewash", said Fakhrul. "The government could not have barred the BNP's relief team if the AL had actually stood by Rohingyas.”

A BNP delegation led by party standing committee member Mirza Abbas went to Cox's Bazar on Tuesday to provide medicines, food and other humanitarian aids to the Rohingya refugees, who entered Bangladesh fleeing military offensive in Rakhine state.