Dhaka, Nov 25 – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday questioned the justification of hurriedly signing the Rohingya repatriation instrument with Myanmar without involving the United Nations and other international stakeholders.“It’s well and good that you’ve inked the deal (instrument) with Myanmar swiftly. But what did we actually achieve? You’ve done it without involving the United Nations and the countries interested in resolving the problem,” he said.
The BNP leader came up with the comment while speaking at a discussion arranged by Bangladesh Association of University Teachers (Agricultural Science) at a city hotel, marking BNP Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman’s 53rd birthday.
Fakhrul said though their party has long been urging the government to intensify diplomatic efforts to have an effective solution to the Rohingya crisis, the government did not properly do it. “Even, the Prime Minister didn’t visit Myanmar, China or India to talk over the issue.”
Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an ‘instrument’ on the Rohingya repatriation with high hopes that the forcibly displaced Rohingyas will start returning to their homeland within the next two months.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at a press conference on Saturday said Myanmar will take back the displaced persons of Rakhine state who entered Bangladesh after October 9, 2016 and August 25, 2017 following the document signed with Myanmar.
Under the agreement, he also said, the repatriation of Rohingyas who took shelter in Bangladesh before October 9, 2016 will also be considered separately upon the completion of the present arrangement.
About the international recognition of the 7th March speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Fakhrul said it is undoubtedly a historic speech. But, he criticised the government for clabbering it with much enthusiasm through a rally in the city while people are going through immense sufferings.
He also said the government is taking mega projects only to plunder public money. “The pockets of the ruling party men are getting heavier in the name of development. Sustainable development is not possible without sustainable democracy in the country.”
The BNP leader urged the government to create a proper atmosphere so that people and all the political parties can join the next general election. – UNB
