17 April 2014
Burma Times: Dhaka-The European Rohingya Council (ERC), a Netherlands-based NGO, has requested the people and government of Bangladesh to play a key role in finding out a ‘just and lasting’ solution to the longstanding Rohingya problem in the interest of Bangladesh and ‘persecuted’ Rohingya people. The organisation requested Bangladesh government to continue sheltering Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds until a congenial atmosphere is created for their safe return to their homeland. “Please help us, save us. We want peace and we want to go back to our homeland,” Media and Information Secretary of ERC Mohamed Ibrahim told reporters at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
He appreciated government’s initiatives to resolve the crisis and said Rohingya refugees would get rid of sufferings if Bangladesh takes serious steps with its neighbors. “We’re grateful to the people and government of Bangladesh for sheltering a large number of our people for a long time on humanitarian ground,” Ibrahim added. Describing human rights violations against Rohingya and other Muslims in Myanmar, he urged the international community to ensure their ‘right of return’ of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and other countries to their homeland. “We’re just living in hell indeed.” The ERC demanded formation of an UN Commission of inquiry to investigate the ‘atrocity crimes’ in Arakan and other parts of Burma and bring the perpetrators to book.
It also urged the international community to exert pressure on the Burmese government to allow humanitarian aids to the Rohingyas and other needy people and to allow international non-government organisations to continue their humanitarian activities in Arakan without restraint and disturbance, according to a news agency.
source:thefinancialexpress-bd
