Dhaka, Jun 15 (bdnews24.com)—The BNP has urged the government to consider allowing Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar into Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds.

"BNP is in favour of humanity. When a group and community gets repressed or attacked by any other quarter, then humanity necessitates their assistance. But the language our Foreign Minister Dipu Moni spoke is devoid of humanity," said Fakhrul on Friday.

He made the comment while sharing his thoughts over the Rohingya issue at a press briefing a day after he was released on bail from Kashimpur jail.

"We will expect the government to resolve the matter through diplomatic discussion considering the humanistic perspective. The government should talk with all including the opposition party on the issue, if need be," he added.

Opposition BNP's spokesperson made the comment after the Foreign Minister once again rejected calls by international organizations for opening the country's border to Rohingyas.

"Bangladesh has not signed any international agreement to allow refugees," Dipu said in Parliament on Thursday, snubbing continuous calls from international rights groups and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to open the border.

"Despite not bounded by any international laws, we are allowing them to live in the country only for the sake of humanity," she added.

About 500,000 Rohingya refugees had entered the Bangladesh's territory to escape repression and torture from the erstwhile military-ruled government of Myanmar.

Moni suggested international bodies for mounting pressure on the Myanmar government to get the situation back to normal instead of pressing Bangladesh for opening its border.

Fakhrul at the press briefing at his Uttara house said, "We may be a poor country, still we are human being. We stand by people in times of difficulties."

"I saw a Rohingya family pleading with their hands folded for shelter in a newspaper... so, humanitarian considerations have to be made," Fakhrul said.

Influx of Rohingyas started after a riot broke out in Rakhine province of Myanmar between Buddhist Rakhine and Islamist Rohingyas.

Bangladesh government has ordered its border guards and law-enforcing agencies along the border to prevent Rohingyas from intruding into Bangladesh.

Fakhrul said it was on humanitarian grounds that the BNP allowed Rohingyas into Bangladesh when the party was in power in 1991.

Regarding the Foreign Minister's claim that Rohingyas have connection with Jamaat-e-Islami, Fakhrul said, "Whatever is lost, a wife always blames it on the servant. The government ministers are making statements like this."

Dipu Moni had said in Parliament Thursday, "They (Myanmar government) have communicated their concern over the issue through the Bangladesh's embassy there. Some of their organisations and Jamaat-e-Islami are instigating the riot by making armed intervention in Myanmar."


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