Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses its grave concern on government’s stern stand to resist the entry of Rohingya refugees fleeing from ethnic conflict in Rakhain state of Myanmar and urges the government to consider the matter from a humanitarian point of view.

According to different media, in the context of communal violence between the Muslims and the Buddhists in Rakhain Province of Myanmar, the Rohingyas have been trying to enter Bangladesh through the Teknaf border by crossing the Naf river and the sea for the last few days. To resist the influx, the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard have been kept alert in the border area with added reinforcement. According to the human rights organization Human Rights Watch, on June 12, 2012, BGB sent back nearly 1000 Rohingyas to Myanmar. It was further informed that on June 13, 2012, approximately 148 Rohingyas who fled in 4 trawlers were sent back. Although those trawlers instead of getting back to Myanmar, have been floating on the hostile sea with a hope to reenter Bangladesh. In those trawlers, there are many old persons and children including men and women. Forcing the Refugees to go back to Myanmar, would amount to compel them towards certain death despite having knowledge of the situation prevailing. Different international human rights organizations including the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have already requested Bangladesh Government to shelter the Rohingya refugees. But the Minister for Foreign Affairs negated the possibility of providing shelter to the Rohingyas clarifying the position of the government.

Ain o Salish Kendra believes that if any citizen is subjected to violence or suppression due to communal, racial, gender-based or linguistic reasons by the State or any section of the State and is forced to leave his own country due to the insecurity for saving his life; then it is the moral responsibility of every other State to stand beside that person. We should not forget that facing the genocide, torture and violence of the Pakistani military; ten million refugees took shelter in India during our Liberation War. Had India have not opened its border at that time the casualties by the Pakistani army would have been many more. Although it caused immense pressure on the Indian economy at that time, still, from humanitarian consideration India stood beside us that day.

We hope that, considering these aspects, the authority would respond to the anxiety and appeal of the international community and refrain from sending back the Rohingy refugees forcibly.