‘Rohingya crisis: BNP wants to help govt’

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party wants to make the hands of the government stronger to resolve the 'dangerous' Rohingya crisis, reports UNB.

"The Rohingya crisis is a very dangerous one. It's difficult to say what will be the future of the problem. The government is blaming us having completely failed to resolve it," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, "We're talking in favour of you (govt). We want to make your hands stronger so that you can solve the Rohingya problem. A national convention on the Rohingya problem should be called."

Fakhrul also said the government can defeat Myanmar by wining global support if all the political parties in the country raise their voices in unison over the issue. "But the government doesn't like national unity as they believe they alone can do everything."

He said the government has failed to take any step to ensure the return of Rohingyas to their own country. "They also couldn't reach any understanding with countries that can create international pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingyas. Besides, the influential countries are in favour of Myanmar."

Bhasani Anusari Parishad organised the programme at the National Press Club, marking the 4th death anniversary of Jatiya Party (Zafar) founder Kazi Zafar Ahmed.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and most of them entered the country since 25 August 2017. The two countries signed a repatriation deal on 23 November 2017, but there has been little progress.

Fakhrul said their party has been doing politics for people's welfare following the ideals of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. "If we can keep this politics on the right track and create a greater unity with all the patriotic political parties, we'll surely come out successful."

He said the entire government machinery and institutions have collapsed due to politicisation and the government's control. "I think Bangladesh has now become a failed and ineffective state."

Stating that BNP is now going through a tough time, Fakhrul said their party never got defeated as it woke up overcoming various crises in the past. "The government has almost established a one-party Baksal rule as the ruling party did it in 1975. We must resist it. We'll have to restore democracy together with people."