By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh apprehends influx of refugees from eastern neighbour Myanmar due to the reported crackdown on Arakanese people by the military government in Yangon.
“We have been closely watching the situation (in Myanmar) since the beginning of the current political crisis,” Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain told New Age.
Political trouble at home has forced the Rohingyas, Muslim tribals from the Arakan region, into Bangladesh from time to time.
A foreign policy analyst said the government should not make any delay in clearing its position on the issue in view of the probable influx of Myanmar refugees into Bangladesh.
“We, as the next door neighbour, should raise our voice since there is a clear possibility of influx of refugees. The Myanmar government has begun crackdown on Arakanese people – predominantly Rakhaine and Rohingya,” said Imtiaz Ahmad, a professor of international relations at Dhaka University.
He felt the interim government’s ‘go-slow’ stance was not a right policy considering the fast-changing scenario and the international community’s reaction to the situation.
“Dhaka should also make its position clear regarding democratisation of the (Southeast Asian) country,” Imtiaz Ahmed added.
Meanwhile, dozens of Myanmar nationals staying in Bangladesh staged demonstrations outside Myanmar Embassy here Tuesday, protesting the “brutal killing” and arrest of monks, nuns and pro-democratic people in Myanmar.
The protesters carried placards and banners and shouted slogans against the military junta.
They demanded resignation of all Myanmar ambassadors assigned to different countries including Bangladesh, Japan, the USA, China, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Korea, the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency reported.
Their demands included sending troops back to the barracks, releasing political prisoners, formation of an interim government and compensation by the Myanmar military junta for the killing of monks and general people.