3 NGOs barred from Rohingya relief operations

The government on Wednesday forbade three non-government organisations (NGOs) from distributing relief materials among the Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh fleeing Myanmar.

The three NGOs are Muslim Aid, Islamic Relief and Allama Fazlullah Foundation, officials informed a parliamentary panel on Wednesday.

It was alleged at the meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the foreign ministry that these NGOs were doing ‘something else’ in the name of relief operations.

“We went to Cox’s Bazar and came to know that a few NGOs were engaged in doing something else on the plea of distribution of relief materials among the Rohingyas,” committee member Mahjabeen Khaled said to Prothom Alo after the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

“We asked all to stop publicise something else in the name of distribution of relief materials,” she added.

The ruling party member of parliament also said they have asked the authorities to check the identities of all whoever comes to distribute relief. “All have been asked as well to distribute relief materials through the coordination committee,” Mahjabeen added.

Another member of the standing committee said, “Bangladesh has given shelter to the Rohingyas, but we must not show a welcome gesture  to them. Their repatriation is already a tough task.”

The MP also insisted that Bangladesh should ask other countries that proposed to build dwellings for the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, to take them to their countries.

The parliamentary body recommended vigorous diplomatic efforts to compel Myanmar to take back Rohingyas, said a press release of the paliament secretariat.

The meeting was chaired by committee chief Dipu Moni.