President calls for OIC action to ensure just right of Rohingyas

President Abdul Hamid on Saturday called upon the OIC members to take action 'right now' to ensure a peaceful life with the justified right of Rohingya people.

The president made the urge while addressing a cultural programme and state dinner by Hamid in honour of OIC foreign ministers who have come to Bangladesh to join the 45th Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the two-day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the morning.

"For the members of the OIC, the time to act is now - to ensure a just and peaceful life in their homeland for Rohingya Muslim brothers who are discriminated, oppressed and victims of systematic persecution," he said.

Mentioning the Rohingya influx as a formidable challenge, the President said "We are now faced with a formidable challenge of the influx of more than 1.1 million Rohingyas from neighbouring Myanmar. The Rohingya Muslims, an ancient ethnic community in Myanmar and currently the largest group of stateless people in the world, have been at risk for decades."

He also added, "Having been deprived of citizenship under the 1982 citizenship law, they are denied access to health and education, prohibited from taking part in civil and political life, and deprived of their social, economic and cultural rights."

Calling the latest episode of violence starting from August 2017 as a sharp escalation of long-running, state-led persecution and attacks on the Rohingya population, the President said, "What has been happening in Myanmar not only represents a clear violation of core International Human Rights treaties but also shows a burning example of ethnic cleansing."

Appreciating the efforts in promoting the just cause for Rohingyas, "We appreciate your efforts in promoting the just cause for Rohingyas. In the same vein, we commend OIC's continued role in remaining engaged for justice for Palestinians."

He said that the Organization also needs urgently to build solid economic structures for a more concrete solidarity in development sector - aiming at the realization of the 2030 Sustainable development Agenda.

Emphasizing on the need for strengthening the solidarity for peace and development, he said that the Organization has gone through various experiences and efforts to consolidate and conceptualize the idea of solidarity since its inception over the year.

He also said that the Organization has to look forward and enhance its effectiveness to cater to the aspirations of about 1.8 billion Muslims around the world right now. The motto of "Solidarity in Action" as adopted in 2005 needs to be re-invigorated to bring peace and development in the Muslim world as our world is challenged by conflict and Islamophobia.

The OIC needs to articulate a vision for a just global order, where Muslims do not suffer from Islamophobia or ethnic cleansing. A vigorous role of OIC members on the basis of solidarity would be crucial in this regard.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Secretary-General of OIC Dr Yousef A Al Othaimeen and OIC foreign ministers and secretaries concerned were also present in the event.