Atrocities on Rohingyas protested

Different political, religious and ethnic minority organisations in Bangladesh yesterday condemned the ongoing repression against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine state that erupted recently with a series of army raids leaving many dead and seeing hundreds arrested.

In Chittagong city, leaders of Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh at a gathering at Anderkillah intersection following the Jumma prayers, announced to rally in Cox's Bazar on December 2 to denounce the repression, reports our staff correspondent in Chittagong.

A human chain in Khilgaon. Photo: Star

The organisation's Secretary General Junaid Babu Nagari urged the government to put diplomatic pressure on the Myanmarese government to immediately stop the assaults.

He also urged the government to open up borders to let in the repressed Muslims for shelter and rights organisations to come forward to protect the victims.

The organisation will submit a memorandum to the Myanmer embassy in Dhaka on December 1.

People demonstrating with children whose faces are blurred before Jatiya Press Club. Photo: Star

Following the rally, several hundred Hefazat activists marched towards Jamalkhan intersection.

In the same city, Muktijuddher Bijay Mela Parishad brought out a procession at Laldighi Maidan, while Sammilito Bauddha Nagorik Committee formed a human chain in front of the press club, protesting the attacks and urging to ensure peaceful coexistence of all people in Myanmar.

The Parishad demanded an end to the repression and drew the international community's attention to this issue.

Among others, its chairman ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury joined the procession that paraded through main thoroughfares and ended near Central Shaheed Minar in the city.

In Khulna, holding placards that read "stop genocide of Rohingyas", thousands of people joined a procession brought out by Imam Parishad, an organisation of priests, in Dakbanglomor area of the city, adds a correspondent in Khulna.

A demonstration being staged by Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Photo: Star

The demonstrators accused the Myanmarese government, its allies, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of being directly involved in the "genocide".

They also demanded that Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize be withdrawn immediately for her "reluctance to stopping the massacre."

President of the organisation's Khulna unit Md Salha and Mufti Shafiqur Rahaman were present, among others.