Bangladesh forms committees to identify Myanmar Rohingyas and prevent influx

Senior Correspondent, bdnews24

Published: 2017-01-30

 

• A Rohingya refugee camp. Photo: Reuters

The government has formed four committees to identify the Rohingyas and stop further influx from Myanmar.

The Cabinet Division issued the order forming the committees in Chittagong division and Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong and Bandarban districts recently.

The division took the decision to form committees also in all the districts, Upazilas, municipalities, wards and unions within a ‘limited scope’ in a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Jan 5.

The government move comes amidst the recent influx of Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Bangladesh is already shelter to 500,000 Rohingya refugees.

The Cabinet Division said around 65,000 Rohingyas had entered Bangladesh since the recent violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state started in October last year.

Many of these ‘refugees’ are assimilating in the main population of Bangladesh, the Cabinet Division order said.

The division expressed fear over deteriorating law and order, the spread of infectious disease, increasing health risk and creation of socioeconomic problems because of the Rohingyas.

The committees have been asked to take unified measures to prevent new intrusion of Rohingyas and stop the already entered Rohingyas from mixing in the main population.

The district committees have been asked to make lists of Rohingyas and help the authorities stop them leaving refugee camps.

They have also been asked to help the authorities transfer the registered and unregistered Rohingyas to the camp in Noakhali’s Hatia gradually.

BGB personnel stand guard to stop boats carrying Rohingyas from Myanmar.

The National Coordination Committee and National Taskforce to deport undocumented citizens from Myanmar, headed by the foreign minister and secretary respectively, will coordinate the new committees.The Chittagong divisional committee, headed by the divisional commissioner, includes Chittagong Metropolitan Police commissioner, Border Guard Bangladesh regional commander, deputy inspector general of police and refugee relief and repatriation commissioner.

The deputy commissioners are heading the three district committees. Additional deputy commissioners are member secretaries of these committees.

Superintendent of police, civil surgeon, BGB sector commander’s representative or the commanding officer, DGFI’s Colonel GS, NSI joint or deputy director, Ansar and VDP district commander, divisional forest officer, Upazila executive officer, district statistics officer, Coast Guard station commander, and district relief and rehabilitation officer have been made members of the committees.

Joint Statement: Rohingya Condemn Assassination of U Ko Ni and Call for Urgent investigation

U Ko Ni

 

 

Joint Statement

Date: 30th January 2017

Rohingya Condemn Assassination of U Ko Ni and Call for Urgent investigation

We, the undersigned Rohingya organisations worldwide strongly condemn the assassination of U Ko Ni, 65, a high profile Muslim leader and legal advisor of NLD on Sunday, January 29, 2017 upon arrival at Yangon international airport from his official tour to examine the Indonesian model of interfaith.

U Ko Ni, a 1988 activist, was well known in Myanmar as a sincere, honorable, dedicated and patriotic man. He was the founder of Myanmar’s Muslim lawyers Association and had contributed the nation with his expertise in law. He was a strong advocate for peace, interfaith dialogue and harmony in the country. It is an irreparable loss for the nation.

We express our deep condolences to the members of the bereaved families U Ko Ni and Ko Nay Win, the taxi driver who bravely chased the murderer.

The assassination of U Ko Ni, is a reflection of how intimidating the situation is for those who are working for peace and dialogue, especially when they are from minorities or non-Buddhist religious groups.

We call for an urgent independent investigation to identify the motives and people associated with this heinous murder.

We also call on Rohingya people and all Muslims of the country to pray for U Ko Ni.

U Ko Ni will be remembered all times for his heroic struggle for the rights of Muslim communities and other minorities in the country, and also for his relentless fight for constitutional changes for a truly democratic Myanmar.

Signatories:

1. Arakan Rohingya National Organisation
2. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
3. British Rohingya Community in UK
4. Burmese Rohingya Community in Denmark
5. Burmese Rohingya Association Japan
6. Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan
7. Burmese Rohingya Community Australia
8. Burmese Rohingya Association in Queensland-Australia (BRAQA)
9. Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organisation
10. Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation in Malaysia (MERHROM)
11. Rohingya American Society
12. Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee
13. Rohingya Community in Germany
14. Rohingya Community in Switzerland
15. Rohingya Community in Finland
16. Rohingya Community in Italy
17. Rohingya Community in Sweden
18. Rohingya Organisation Norway
19. Rohingya Society Malaysia
20. Rohingya Society Netherlands

For more information, please contact:

Tun Khin (Mobile): +44 7888714866

Nay San Lwin (Mobile): +49 69 26022349

Ko Ko Lin (Mobile): +880 1726068413

 

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