Bangladesh attempts to put pressure on Myanmar

By Mutasim Billah

DHAKA-Bangladesh

Bangladesh MPs unanimously passed a motion Monday in an attempt to put pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingya Muslims who have fled a security operation in the Rakhine state, which has raised concerns globally.

In the resolution, Dipu Moni, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the Rohingya were citizens of Myanmar.

"They have lived in Arakan State [Rakhine] for more than 500 years," she said.

Several statements issued by State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi's office on the ongoing violence in the northern part of Rakhine state refer to Rohingya Muslims as Bengali, a term suggesting they are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

Over 310,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, according to the UN.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

Last October, following attacks on border posts in Rakhine’s Maungdaw district, Myanmar security forces launched a five-month crackdown in which, according to Rohingya groups, around 400 people were killed.

Boycott

The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including infants and young children -- brutal beatings and disappearances committed by security personnel.

In a report, UN investigators said the human rights violations constituted crimes against humanity.

Fresh violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine state more than two weeks ago when security forces launched an operation against the Rohingya community.

Bangladesh, which already hosted around 400,000 Rohingya refugees, has faced a fresh influx of refugees since the security operation was launched.

Meanwhile, progressive activist group Ganajagaran Mancha has called upon Bangladeshis to boycott Myanmar goods "because these products have blood stains of Rohingyas".

The group, Ganajagaran Mancha, had already threatened to besiege the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka.