No refugee status for Rohingya: Amu

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu today said the government is not considering “refugee status” for the Rohingya people, who are coming to Bangladesh fleeing the brutal persecution in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

“Due to the heavy influx of Rohingya refugees, the government is increasing the number of camps in Cox's Bazar,” he said this after emerging from a meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order at the home ministry here.

The minister said that around 4,50,000 lakh Rohingya refugees entered into Bangladesh till now and many such people are also crossing the Naf River for taking shelter in Bangladesh.

He said a vested quarter is trying to instigate communal unrest using the Rohingya issue but the law enforcers are on high alert to foil such attempts.

“Bangladesh is a small country in size but a large number of people are living here. Bangladesh wants that the Rohingyas go back to Myanmar, while the Rohingyas are also wiling to return to their homes in the Rakhaine state of Myanmar,” Amu said.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave shelterr to the Rohingyas on a humanitarian ground and Bangladesh wants to resolve the Rohingya issue peacefully.

Talking to newsmen on Durga Puja celebration, Amu said the government has taken fool-proof security measures to ensure smooth holding of the Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.

He said 231 puja mandops would beraised in the capital city and 3,077 across the country this year, adding, “The law enforcement agencies have taken special measures to ensure security at all puja mandops.”

Besides, the intelligence agencies have been asked to gear up their vigilance in and around the city. They have been asked to gather secret information about the suspected trouble-makers or offenders so that police could take all sorts of preventive measures to avert any incident during the festivals, the minister said.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and representatives of different law enforcing agencies took part in the meeting.

Source: BSS