Dhaka for quick action to address boat-people crisis

Bangladesh looks forward to the upcoming meeting of Bangkok on  May 29, 2015 to have immediate actions to be taken by all concerned to address the "boat-people" crisis, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali has said, reports BSS.

The foreign minister made the comments while talking about the issue of Rohingya Muslims and the plight of the "boat-people" with Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani in Kuwait Tuesday.

The foreign minister reached Kuwait on May 26 to lead a Bangladesh delegation at the 42nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) to be held on May 27-28, a foreign ministry press release said Wednesday.

During the meeting with Madani, Ali elaborated the historical background of migration in the Arakan state from the time of Great Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

"The migration of Muslims in that area was from many of the neighbouring countries of Myanmar. Therefore, over simplification of the issue and terming these Muslims as "Bengalis" are not supported by historical facts," he added.

The OIC secretary general highly praised Bangladesh for its constructive role in OIC endeavours for peace and development in the Muslim world. He also lauded Bangladesh for its strength emanating from a neutral and impartial stand on many of the contentious issues.