Settling Rohingya Crisis
Zillur urges OIC to persuade Myanmar
President Zillur Rahman has urged the OIC member states to persuade the Myanmar government with political and economic support to ensure dignified living of their Muslim-minority Rohingyas.
“We must take a pro-active role towards a lasting solution to this long-standing (Rohingya) problem both bilaterally and multilaterally,” he said.
The president was addressing the closing ceremony of the Fourth Extra-ordinary Session of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Mecca last night, according to a message received in Dhaka yesterday.
In the wake of recent violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, Zillur Rahman said the UN high commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern over oppression on Muslim minorities there.
“The condition of Muslim minorities in different parts of the world is of grave concern to us,” he said adding that it is not just an issue of safeguarding Muslims and their faith, but a matter of universal human rights.
“We need to revive the moral of the world and take necessary steps to shape international public opinion in favour of these minority people,” he told the summit.
Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud hosted the two-day session of the summit. The heads of states and governments of OIC member states also joined the programme.
The issue of Palestine remains a symbol of oppression and injustice for Muslims, Zillur Rahman said, adding that Bangladesh has maintained its unwavering support for the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
The president said the world public opinion in favour of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians must be formed for a just and fair resolution of the Palestinian crisis.
He claimed that great values of Islamic brotherhood are being challenged by the direction of international politics.
“We are now facing numerous conflicts and discords. They are not just between Muslims and non-Muslims but, sadly, they are also between Muslims and Muslims,” he said.
“The oppressions on Muslims that we witness today are a wake-up call to our obligation to uphold the Islamic ideals of peace and justice,” the president continued.
“We have necessary wisdom, resources, values, culture and heritage to influence the international politics in our favour,” he said adding, “Doing so will require the unity and solidarity of Muslim Ummah and implementation of the Islamic values of justice and equality”.
The president expressed his dismay to see the loss of lives and destruction of property during the recent political unrest in the Middle-East and North Africa.
“I firmly believe that such human tragedies should be avoided by assuring the basic civil and political rights of our citizens,” he said.
Zillur Rahman left the country for Saudi Arabia on Sunday night on a five-day official visit. He is expected to return home today.
-With BSS/The Daily Star input
