Global voices getting louder against atrocities on Rohingyas in Myanmar: Bangladesh PM Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 14 September said that the entire world is raising its voice against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and was calling upon the Myanmar Government to take their citizens back.

"The Canadian prime minister has phoned Aung San Suu Kyi so that Myanmar takes back Rohingyas. The diplomats of 45 countries and representatives of two international organisations during their recent visit to Cox's Bazar have expressed deep concern over the atrocities against the Rohingyas," The Daily Star reported Prime Minister Hasina, as saying, in her speech at the Bangladesh Parliament.

"The U.N. Security Council also urged Myanmar to stop the repression on the Rohingyas and highly lauded Bangladesh's role for giving shelter to the refugees," she added.

She got emotional when she shared her experience of visiting Rohingyas in Ukhia, which she described as inhumane.

"It was hard to hold back tears when I heard about the ordeal and atrocities," Hasina said.

Hasina further said that the atrocities carried by the Myanmar authorities were beyond description.

"It is not possible for them to live there. Therefore, we have decided to arrange a temporary accommodation for them at the Bhasan Char, also known as the Thengar Char," she added.

She stressed on "where and how we will keep the refugees, although we have given them shelter on humanitarian grounds."

Hasina is hoping that Myanmar authorities will take back the refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh and will provide security to them.

On Wednesday, Hasina had dubbed the atrocities, unleashed by the military in the Rakhine state, as "acts against humanity and violation of human rights."

"Myanmar has to take back its nationals and give them a safe place to live in their homeland. The international community should put pressure on the country as it is committing such atrocities against Rohingya people. This has to be stopped," Hasina said.

She added that Bangladesh wants to maintain peace and good relations with its neighbouring countries, further urging Naypyidaw to end the persecution of the Rohingya minorities.

She visited a Rohingya refugee camp, along with a delegation in Kutupalong.

Earlier, the United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, had said that at least 2,70,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from the violence-affected Myanmar's Northern Rakhine state and sought refuge in Bangladesh where the limited shelter capacity is already exhausted.

-ANI