‘PM saved global leaders from disgrace sheltering Rohingyas’

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has saved the face of the global leaders from "ignominy and disgrace" by sheltering the persecuted people of Rakhine province of Myanmar.

"If she hadn't given them shelter, it would have ended up with the gravest and worst genocide of the century since WWII," he said urging the world leaders to show genuine commitment to human rights values by sending them back to their place of origin with safety and dignity.

Terming Bangladesh a big example of valuing human rights by sheltering Rohingyas, he said allowing Rohingyas to go back to their place of origin in Myanmar with freedom of movement and other basic human rights would be the be the best way of showing respect to human rights.

The Foreign Minister was addressing the inaugural session of a seminar on Human Rights at Inter-Continental Hotel in Dhaka. United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo, among others, spoke.

Foreign Minister Dr Momen said there are nearly 1.2 million Rohingya or 'displaced residents' of Rakhine province being sheltered in Bangladesh now.

"They need to be repatriated with safely and security at the earliest. Their exodus was created by Myanmar and it is their responsibility to solve it," he said.

These Rohingyas, Dr Momen said, are stateless people, they lived in Myanmar for centuries and Myanmar itself, a State - is failing to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities towards its own people.

"My fear is that, if this problem lingers for a longer time, it may encourage creating pockets of radicalism and that may create problems of uncertainty and instability not only for Myanmar and Bangladesh but for the entire region," he said.

Therefore, Dr Momen said, Rohingyas must go back to their homes, the earlier the better and the global leadership must come forward to resolve this crisis at its root, not in Bangladesh. "Bangladesh seeks your proactive cooperation in resolving this matter of grave concern."

He reminded that unless Bangladesh stands like a solid-rock to end atrocities and the worst form of human rights violation termed by UN High Commissioner of Human Rights as 'classic example of ethnic cleansing' and by others as 'genocide' in Myanmar, their efforts will never be of much value.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through sheltering these persecuted people has become a 'role model of humanity', and a 'leader of the world in protecting human rights and values'.

"No wonder, the UN members overwhelmingly voted Bangladesh again into its Human Rights Commission," he mentioned.