Bangladesh minister slams ‘rogue’ Myanmar government

By Mutasim Billah

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s minister Monday called the Myanmar’s persecution of its Rohingya Muslims minority an “indirect attack” on his country.

“Yes, it is an attack on Bangladesh. This is Burmese [Myanmar’s] indirect attack on Bangladesh by rogue government and it must be resisted,” said Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Bangladesh’s finance minister, while talking to journalists.

Rohingya, described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

Fresh violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine state nearly two weeks ago when security forces launched an operation against the Rohingya community.

Bangladesh, which already hosted around 400,000 Rohingya refugees, has faced a fresh influx of refugees since the security operation was launched.

According to UN on Monday, over 310,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25.

Bangladesh’s rights chief also condemned the Myanmar government over “genocide” of Rohingya Muslims.

“Myanmar security forces violate the United Nations’ rules. They carried out genocide. To bring them under trial, the government of Bangladesh will have to file a case at international court,” Kazi Reazul Hoque, chief of Bangladeshi National Human Rights Commission, told Anadolu Agency.

“Turkish President Erdogan took the issue of human rights violations [in Myanmar] very seriously. He spoke to the president of Bangladesh and said the issue would be raised at United Nations,” Hoque added.

He hoped Turkey and Bangladesh would be able to form a public opinion on the subject to pressure Myanmar’s authorities.

Hoque called on all international organizations to cooperate with them to fulfill the basic needs of Rohingya.

He said that the rights commission has dispatched a letter to international groups including United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations, seeking their role on the issue.