The government is in the hard line against the plotters engaged in instigating Rohingya refugees from behind the scene to prolong their stay in Bangladesh. After the huge August 25 Rohingya rally in Ukhiya,questions have been raised by a wide range of people of the society how Rohingyas succeeded organising a rally attended by over one lakh people without informing the government at all.
The Prime Minister also expressed her dissatisfaction over the government’s ignorance, said a top government source. The government also has taken the issue very seriously and is going hard against the vested quarter that worked from behind the scene to organise the rally. “They are instigating the refugees not to go back to their homeland,” said a top government official.
Commenting over the issue, former Election Commissioner and security analyst Brigadier General M Shakhawat Hossain told the media, “Even Bangladeshi citizens need permission to hold a rally. But how the Rohingyas could organise such a huge rally without any permission! It is sad to hear from the foreign minister the following day that the government was not informed at all. It is not clear how this could happen even after the DC, SP, SB and DSBworking side by side.”
Informing that the government has already identified two global NGOs involved in supplying vests, banners and festoons to Rohingyas for the rally, the official said, “Legal action will be taken against them.” “Preparations for the rally started six months ago. To organise the rally, six lakh pieces of shirts and T-shirts were distributed among refugees of 34 Rohingya camps a week ago before the rally, but the government was totally ignorant of it. It is being investigated how this could happen despite several government agencies working in and outside the camps.” The official added.
Earlier a week ago, thousands of Rohingyas staged a huge rally in Ukhiya on Sunday demanding that the international community step up pressure on Myanmar to meet their five-point demand, including repatriation, citizenship and trial in the international court of those involved in killing and persecution.
Besides, as per the high command instruction, the authorities concerned have already scrutinised whether the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of the districtperformed their duties strictly. In order to curb communication between the instigators and the refugees, the government has instructed to restrict mobile phone services to the refugees.
In this regard, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Monday asked the telecommunication operators to shut down five lakh mobile SIMs used by Rohingyas within six days. Out of over 11 lakh about Rohingya refugees, around five lakh are using mobile phone in the camps.
Using the cell phones, the Rohingyas reportedly are increasingly being engaged in various crimes including extortion, drug peddling, kidnapping and killing. Rival factions of refugees even lock into bloody clashes among themselves deteriorating law and order situation inside the camps as well as hampering development activities in the region.
The government last week halted operations of 41 non-government organisations inside the camps, due to ‘involvement in malpractices’. Notable, these 41 NGOs are among 139 operating in Rohingya camps. According to administrative sources, government monitoring has found many other NGOs also involved in instigating Rohingyas to prolong their stay in Bangladesh. List of such NGOs are also being prepared through detailed scrutiny. They are also to face action in near future.
