B Chy, Kamal for sending emissary to Russia, China to resolve Rohingya crisis

Former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Gano Forum president Kamal Hossain have asked the government to send emissary to China, Russia and India seeking their good offices to resolve Rohingya crisis.

They have also emphasised that a national unity is necessary to deal with this issue and that Bangladesh needs to take a strategic stand to solve permanently the Rohingya issue.

The two senior politicians came up with their recommendations while addressing a meeting at Institution of Engineers Bangladesh auditorium in the capital on Thursday.

It was organised to protest the attacks on Rohingya Muslims by Myanmar authorities in Rakhine that forced more than 400,000 Rohingyas to take shelter in Bangladesh since 25 August.

“Rohingya crisis is a major problem in our national life now and we can’t ignore it. It’s related with international politics,” said Badruddoza Chowdhury, also Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh president.

He pointed out that Myanmar buys arms mainly from four countries – India, China, Russia, and Israel. "So, they will support the Myanmar government.”

The former president urged the government to send emissary to these countries, saying, “We have to go to China, Russia, and India and make them understand (the situation).”  

Echoing Badruddoza Chowdhury, Kamal Hossain, an eminent jurist, called on the government to immediately assign emissaries to persuade Russia and China.

“Why are you wasting time? If possible, send emissaries tomorrow. I can guarantee you we’ll be benefitted if we can persuade China,” said Kamal Hossain.

Terming the atrocities on Rohingya people as violation of human rights and international law, he urged the government to formulate a national framework to deal with the issue.

"The Rohingya issue involves international law, diplomacy and politics. So those who are in the government need to take advice from others in this regard," he added.

Alongside diplomatic initiatives, B Chowdhury suggested that national unity must be forged.

"Involving all political parties and intellectuals we can hold public meetings in major cities to show the world that we are united on this issue," he added.

Supporting their proposal, Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui said Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus might be used to make international lobbying in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

The meeting was also addressed by Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal general secretary Khalequzzaman, former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hassan Chowdhury, political science professor Dilara Chowdhury and former Awami League leader Sultan Muhammad Mansur Ahmed.