BD seals border to stem further Rohingya influx

Bangladesh has 'almost' sealed the Myanmar border to stem the influx of Rohingya from the neighbouring nation, foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Wednesday.
"We shall not allow the influx of people from Myanmar anymore. We have almost sealed the border," he said.
The minister disclosed this while responding to a question after his meeting with the UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie and UN secretary general's special envoy on Myanmar Christine Bergner.
Talking tough on the issue, the foreign minister said, "We received information that a conflict is going on between the Myanmar army and the Rakhine army forcing other ethnic groups to flee Myanmar."
"Many of them have tried to enter Bangladesh to save their life. But we shall not allow the influx from Myanmar anymore," he added. "We have opened our border for a huge number of people. Now let other countries open their border."
Big countries said Myanmar has committed serious crimes against humanity but they are keeping their business as usual approach as far as Myanmar is concerned, the minister said.
"I told her that there should be some actions from big countries as they have the leverage to do so. Only lip services will not do." the minister said quoting his discussions with Ms Christine.
"We have been always supportive of them (Myanmar). When there was a country-specific move against Myanmar in the UN we backed them, but they have not shown any reciprocity."
"Still, we hope Myanmar will be proactive to end this Rohingya crisis as they have created this crisis. We want to maintain a peaceful relation with our neighbour. But so far they have not taken any move to end this crisis, which disappoints us," Dr Momen said, adding that Bangladesh expected better response from Myanmar.
But the minister said he is still hopeful that good sense will prevail and the Rohingya would be taken back by Myanmar immediately.
The foreign minister discussed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal for creating a safe zone in Rakhine.
"According to this proposal, the ASEAN member countries and countries like China may play the role of observers in the safe zone. So Myanmar should have no problem to accept the proposal," Dr Momen said.
Briefing reporters about his meeting with the Hollywood super star, the foreign minister said she is supportive of the cause of Bangladesh.
"She is a big voice - celebrity voice. She also wants safe and secure repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland and she wants to work on it."
She praised Bangladesh for providing shelter to the Rohingya refugees.
The Prime Minister has set an example by providing shelter to them, otherwise there could be a humanitarian catastrophe like the Second World War, Dr Momen said
Around 36 thousand people were killed and 18 thousand women raped, 115 thousand households burned and 120 thousand households destroyed, which forced the Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
"But we have not the ability to keep them here for a longer period. We are one of the most populated countries in the world, and we are not that much rich, though our heart is very big," the minister said, adding, Ms Jolie realised it after visiting the Rohingya camps.
If this problem prolongs for a long period it might trigger extremism, uncertainty will be created in this region, he said.
The minister blamed Myanmar for creating this problem during the last four decades, saying now time has come to correct it.
Ms Jolie pledged her support, and Myanmar has to solve it, the minister said.
"I have requested her to organise an event in Hollywood to mobilise public opinion for the Rohingya cause as George Harrison did during the liberation war of Bangladesh."
Many countries had pledged money for conducting humanitarian response to the Rohingya, but so far the response programme remains highly underfinanced, the minister told Ms Jolie.
The minister urged the actress to work on raising funds and she said that she would think over it.
The minister made it clear that Bangladesh would not accept any conditions to be tagged with the repatriation of the Rohingya.
"When Myanmar has forced them to flee to Bangladesh, they did not set any condition. Now they are tagging various conditions to take back the Rohingya, who are their citizens," Dr Momen said. "This is not acceptable."
Myanmar has to take back all of their citizens without any conditions as soon as possible, the minister said, clarifying Bangladesh's position over the issue.

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