Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday for the return home of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to the neighbouring country to escape a Myanmar army crackdown.

&quot;We are ready to take them back as soon as possible after Bangladesh sends the forms back to us,&quot; said Myint Kyaing, a permanent secretary at Myanmar&#39;s ministry of labour, immigration and population, referring to registration forms the Rohingya must complete with personal details before repatriation.

Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday ahead of the signing.

Suu Kyi, whose reputation as a Nobel peace prize winner has suffered during the crisis, has said repatriation of the largely stateless Muslim minority would be based on residency and that it will be &ldquo;safe and voluntary&rdquo;.

Rights groups have accused the military of mostly Buddhist Myanmar of carrying out mass rape and other atrocities during a counter-insurgency operation launched in late August in retaliation for attacks by Rohingya militants in Rakhine State.

On Wednesday, the United States said the military operation that drove 620,000 Rohingya to seek sanctuary in neighbouring, largely Muslim Bangladesh, amounted to &ldquo;ethnic cleansing&rdquo;, echoing an accusation first levelled by top U.N. officials in the early days of the humanitarian crisis. 
&nbsp;

'We are ready to take them back as soon as possible after Bangladesh sends the forms back to us,' said Myint Kyaing, a permanent secretary at Myanmar's ministry of labour, immigration and population

Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday for the return home of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to the neighbouring country to escape a Myanmar army crackdown. "We are ready to take them back as soon as possible after Bangladesh sends the forms back to us," said Myint Kyaing, a permanent secretary at Myanmar's ministry of labour, immigration and population, referring to registration forms the Rohingya must complete with personal details before repatriation. Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday ahead of the signing. Suu Kyi, whose reputation as a Nobel peace prize winner has suffered during the crisis, has said repatriation of the largely stateless Muslim minority would be based on residency and that it will be “safe and voluntary”. Rights groups have accused the military of mostly Buddhist Myanmar of carrying out mass rape and other atrocities during a counter-insurgency operation launched in late August in retaliation for attacks by Rohingya militants in Rakhine State. On Wednesday, the United States said the military operation that drove 620,000 Rohingya to seek sanctuary in neighbouring, largely Muslim Bangladesh, amounted to “ethnic cleansing”, echoing an accusation first levelled by top U.N. officials in the early days of the humanitarian crisis.

Myanmar, Bangladesh sign Rohingya return deal

Pope Francis will meet Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar in Dhaka when he visits the Bangladeshi capital next week, a Vatican spokesman said Wednesday.

Francis, who has repeatedly spoken out over the persecution of the religious minority by the Myanmar authorities, will meet a small group of Rohingyas during an interfaith meeting scheduled for Friday December 1.

The Argentine pontiff&#39;s trip to Bangladesh will be preceded by a three-day stop in neighbouring Myanmar, which will now include a private meeting with the head of the country&#39;s army, General Min Aung Hlaing.

The meeting with the military chief was organised on the recommendation of Charles Bo, the archbishop of Yangon, who also advised the pope not to use the term &quot;Rohingya&quot;, during his visit, for fear of inflaming tensions in the predominantly Buddhist country.

Army and government officials decline to use a term they see as giving the Muslims of Rakhine state the status of an ethnic minority, whereas the official line is that they are illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

The Vatican spokesman said the pope was not forbidden from employing the term but added that he planned to follow his archbishop&#39;s advice.

International condemnation of Myanmar&#39;s treatment of the Rohingya has mounted in recent days with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying Wednesday that it amounted to ethnic cleansing.

More than 600,000 Rohingya, around a third of them children, have fled to Bangladesh since the military launched counter-insurgency operations in Rakhine state in August.

UN officials have also described what is happening as ethnic cleansing while Amnesty International has said the treatment of the Rohingya has been on a par with the institutionalised racism of apartheid South Africa.

Pope Francis will meet Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar in Dhaka when he visits the Bangladeshi capital next week

Pope Francis will meet Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar in Dhaka when he visits the Bangladeshi capital next week, a Vatican spokesman said Wednesday. Francis, who has repeatedly spoken out over the persecution of the religious minority by the Myanmar authorities, will meet a small group of Rohingyas during an interfaith meeting scheduled for Friday December 1. The Argentine pontiff's trip to Bangladesh will be preceded by a three-day stop in neighbouring Myanmar, which will now include a private meeting with the head of the country's army, General Min Aung Hlaing. The meeting with the military chief was organised on the recommendation of Charles Bo, the archbishop of Yangon, who also advised the pope not to use the term "Rohingya", during his visit, for fear of inflaming tensions in the predominantly Buddhist country. Army and government officials decline to use a term they see as giving the Muslims of Rakhine state the status of an ethnic minority, whereas the official line is that they are illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh. The Vatican spokesman said the pope was not forbidden from employing the term but added that he planned to follow his archbishop's advice. International condemnation of Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya has mounted in recent days with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying Wednesday that it amounted to ethnic cleansing. More than 600,000 Rohingya, around a third of them children, have fled to Bangladesh since the military launched counter-insurgency operations in Rakhine state in August. UN officials have also described what is happening as ethnic cleansing while Amnesty International has said the treatment of the Rohingya has been on a par with the institutionalised racism of apartheid South Africa.

Pope to meet Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: Vatican

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-urges-myanmar-to-stop-excessive-military-force-23625" target="_blank">The scale of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is &quot;immense&quot; </a>and while the host nation has been &quot;generous&quot; in its efforts, the situation requires a lot more work, a top US official who recently visited Bangladesh has said.

&quot;What we saw in the camps was shocking. The scale of the refugee crisis is immense,&quot; Simon Henshaw, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration told reporters at a news conference yesterday.

Henshaw led a US delegation to Bangladesh, from October 29 to November 4, during which the team also visited the refugee camps near Cox&#39;s Bazar.

&quot;The conditions are tough. People are suffering. Many refugees told us, through tears, accounts of seeing their villages burned, their relatives killed in front of them,&quot; said Henshaw.

&quot;It was tough to take. Some recall being shot as they fled,&quot; he said.

Despite the trauma, many expressed a strong desire to return to their homes in Burma, provided their safety, security, and rights could be guaranteed, Henshaw said.

Responding to a question, Henshaw said he saw evidence of atrocities during the visit to these camps.

&quot;I&#39;m not an expert, but what I saw was shocking. I saw evidence of atrocities,&quot; he said.

Asked if the atrocities rose up to the level of ethnic cleansing, Henshaw was non-committal, saying the State Department would review his reports and that of the others to make any such determination.

Despite the conditions in the relief camps, Henshaw praised Bangladesh&#39;s government, its people, and other organisations that are supporting the refugees.

&quot;However, more is needed. The US remains committed to addressing the needs of those impacted by the crisis, and calls on others, including in the region, to join us in our response,&quot; Henshaw said.

According to Henshaw, the Burmese government &quot;appears to be committed&quot; to start a repatriation programme which is in its early stages.

&quot;It&#39;s very important to us that the programme not only creates safe conditions so that refugees will want to return voluntarily, but also assure that refugees go back to their villages and land, that their houses be restored in the areas where the villages were burned, and that political reconciliation take place,&quot; he said.

State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert, who accompanied Henshaw during the visit to Bangladesh, applauded the government of Bangladesh for taking &quot;an extraordinary step to open its heart and doors&quot; for their neighbors in distress.

&quot;They&#39;ve opened their hearts; they&#39;ve opened their wallets. Imagine more than 600,000 to cross their borders, putting them in camps. It&#39;s not where these people want to be of course in their camps; they&#39;d rather be home. But at least they&#39;re safe for now,&quot; she said.

More than 600,000 people from the Muslim minority group have fled violence in Myanmar&#39;s northern Rakhine state since August, according to UN estimates.

Bangladesh accused Myanmar of spearheading a violent depopulation campaign to eliminate Rohingyas by branding them as so-called &quot;Islamist terrorists&quot;

Despite the conditions in the relief camps, Henshaw praised Bangladesh's government, its people, and other organisations that are supporting the refugees

The scale of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is "immense" and while the host nation has been "generous" in its efforts, the situation requires a lot more work, a top US official who recently visited Bangladesh has said. "What we saw in the camps was shocking. The scale of the refugee crisis is immense," Simon Henshaw, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration told reporters at a news conference yesterday. Henshaw led a US delegation to Bangladesh, from October 29 to November 4, during which the team also visited the refugee camps near Cox's Bazar. "The conditions are tough. People are suffering. Many refugees told us, through tears, accounts of seeing their villages burned, their relatives killed in front of them," said Henshaw. "It was tough to take. Some recall being shot as they fled," he said. Despite the trauma, many expressed a strong desire to return to their homes in Burma, provided their safety, security, and rights could be guaranteed, Henshaw said. Responding to a question, Henshaw said he saw evidence of atrocities during the visit to these camps. "I'm not an expert, but what I saw was shocking. I saw evidence of atrocities," he said. Asked if the atrocities rose up to the level of ethnic cleansing, Henshaw was non-committal, saying the State Department would review his reports and that of the others to make any such determination. Despite the conditions in the relief camps, Henshaw praised Bangladesh's government, its people, and other organisations that are supporting the refugees. "However, more is needed. The US remains committed to addressing the needs of those impacted by the crisis, and calls on others, including in the region, to join us in our response," Henshaw said. According to Henshaw, the Burmese government "appears to be committed" to start a repatriation programme which is in its early stages. "It's very important to us that the programme not only creates safe conditions so that refugees will want to return voluntarily, but also assure that refugees go back to their villages and land, that their houses be restored in the areas where the villages were burned, and that political reconciliation take place," he said. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert, who accompanied Henshaw during the visit to Bangladesh, applauded the government of Bangladesh for taking "an extraordinary step to open its heart and doors" for their neighbors in distress. "They've opened their hearts; they've opened their wallets. Imagine more than 600,000 to cross their borders, putting them in camps. It's not where these people want to be of course in their camps; they'd rather be home. But at least they're safe for now," she said. More than 600,000 people from the Muslim minority group have fled violence in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state since August, according to UN estimates. Bangladesh accused Myanmar of spearheading a violent depopulation campaign to eliminate Rohingyas by branding them as so-called "Islamist terrorists"

'Tough conditions for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh': US official

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the Commonwealth countries to force Myanmar to stop the persecution and take the Rohingya refugees back.

&quot;I would like to request you all to discuss the Rohingya issue with utmost importance and exert pressure on the Myanmar government to stop persecution of Rohingyas&nbsp;and take them back at the earliest,&quot; The Daily Star quoted Hasina as saying.

Hasina was speaking at the inauguration of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) on Sunday.

The Bangladesh prime minister emphasised that the forceful expulsion of Rohingyas from their homeland has created instability in the region and beyond.

Hasina mentioned that over 6,22,000 Myanmar nationals fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution.

&quot;We&#39;ve given temporary shelter to this huge number of people on humanitarian grounds,&quot; she said.

Nearly half a million Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh due to violence in the Rakhine state.

The Myanmar troops launched a crackdown in the state in response to the attacks on three border posts last year that killed nine police officers. Since then, many Rohingya Muslims have tried to move into Bangladesh illegally.&nbsp;

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the Commonwealth countries to force Myanmar to stop the persecution and take the Rohingya refugees back.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the Commonwealth countries to force Myanmar to stop the persecution and take the Rohingya refugees back. "I would like to request you all to discuss the Rohingya issue with utmost importance and exert pressure on the Myanmar government to stop persecution of Rohingyas and take them back at the earliest," The Daily Star quoted Hasina as saying. Hasina was speaking at the inauguration of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) on Sunday. The Bangladesh prime minister emphasised that the forceful expulsion of Rohingyas from their homeland has created instability in the region and beyond. Hasina mentioned that over 6,22,000 Myanmar nationals fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution. "We've given temporary shelter to this huge number of people on humanitarian grounds," she said. Nearly half a million Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh due to violence in the Rakhine state. The Myanmar troops launched a crackdown in the state in response to the attacks on three border posts last year that killed nine police officers. Since then, many Rohingya Muslims have tried to move into Bangladesh illegally.

Bangladesh requests Commonwealth countries to press Myanmar to take back Rohingyas

The Rohingya boys and girls shrieked with delight as the clowns juggled hoops and somersaulted, their red-nosed antics provoking a sound rarely heard in the world&#39;s largest refugee camp -- children&#39;s laughter.

The clowns have been providing much-needed levity in the crowded Bangladesh camps, where hundreds of thousands of traumatised Rohingya children spend long days in bleak and difficult conditions.

Mohammad Noor lives with his mother and three siblings in a makeshift shanty in the teeming Kutupalong camp, where a lack of food and water means a constant struggle to survive.

The 10-year-old fled Myanmar last month after his father was killed in brutal violence by the army that the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing.

The impromptu circus in a dusty clearing is a welcome distraction from the horror at home.

&quot;It is hilarious. I have never seen anything like it. My friends and I were just laughing and laughing,&quot; he told AFP, as a quartet of painted clowns performed skits before a huge gathered crowd.

Theatre groups in Bangladesh have a record of using &quot;drama therapy&quot; to lift spirits in the most depressing of circumstances.

One troupe performed for the survivors of a factory collapse in 2013 that killed 1100 garment workers, while another hosted shows in a small village in Bangladesh&#39;s south that lost nearly 50 children in a tragic road accident.

In the Rohingya camps, where many lie sick or injured mourning the death of family and loss of their homelands, laughter is sorely needed.

&quot;Our sole aim is to bring laughter to the Rohingya,&quot; said Rina Akter Putul, a veteran acrobat and the lone female member of the group.

&quot;Making people laugh is a tough job, especially for those who lost their parents in the conflict.&quot;

Laughter as medicine&nbsp;

The UN estimates 60 percent of the more than 600,000 refugees to arrive in Bangladesh since late August are children.

Many crossed the border alone from their villages in Myanmar&#39;s westernmost Rakhine State after their parents were murdered and communities driven out by state-sanctioned violence.

Charities on the ground say children are in dire need of emotional and mental support after enduring such trauma on their difficult journeys.

&quot;I am sure our show will live in their memory for some time. It won&#39;t erase their scars, but it will boost their confidence,&quot; said Faker Ali, an acrobat who has worked in drama therapy for more than two decades.

But it&#39;s not just the children who benefit from the visiting performers.

Among the spectators who flocked to a recent show were countless elderly Rohingya refugees, clapping and smiling as the acrobats whirred rings and bars.

Life has been a gruelling quest to survive for older generations of the stateless Muslim minority. Many have escaped past pogroms in Rakhine and lost family and friends in bitter cycles of ethnic violence.

Rohingya are a reviled minority in Myanmar and are denied citizenship, education and opportunity by the Buddhist-majority government that regards them as illegal outsiders.

Most have enjoyed few if any luxuries in their lives -- making the circus performance all the more thrilling.

&quot;We hardly have any fun,&quot; said Nesar Ahmed, 38. Even during major Islamic festivals and weddings, there is little in the way of entertainment, he added.

&quot;Life in Arakan (Rakhine) is grim,&quot; Khairul Amin, a 63-year-old grandfather, told AFP as a boisterous crowd, young and old, jostled to meet the visiting clowns.

&quot;There is no television and no cinema or theatre. And there is this constant fear you&#39;ll be killed or arrested by the military.&quot;

Seated for the show with her youngest child on her lap, Rehana smiled and laughed, saying: &quot;Never in my life have I have seen such fun.&quot;

The clowns have been providing much-needed levity in the crowded Bangladesh camps, where hundreds of thousands of traumatised Rohingya children spend long days in bleak and difficult conditions

The Rohingya boys and girls shrieked with delight as the clowns juggled hoops and somersaulted, their red-nosed antics provoking a sound rarely heard in the world's largest refugee camp -- children's laughter. The clowns have been providing much-needed levity in the crowded Bangladesh camps, where hundreds of thousands of traumatised Rohingya children spend long days in bleak and difficult conditions. Mohammad Noor lives with his mother and three siblings in a makeshift shanty in the teeming Kutupalong camp, where a lack of food and water means a constant struggle to survive. The 10-year-old fled Myanmar last month after his father was killed in brutal violence by the army that the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing. The impromptu circus in a dusty clearing is a welcome distraction from the horror at home. "It is hilarious. I have never seen anything like it. My friends and I were just laughing and laughing," he told AFP, as a quartet of painted clowns performed skits before a huge gathered crowd. Theatre groups in Bangladesh have a record of using "drama therapy" to lift spirits in the most depressing of circumstances. One troupe performed for the survivors of a factory collapse in 2013 that killed 1100 garment workers, while another hosted shows in a small village in Bangladesh's south that lost nearly 50 children in a tragic road accident. In the Rohingya camps, where many lie sick or injured mourning the death of family and loss of their homelands, laughter is sorely needed. "Our sole aim is to bring laughter to the Rohingya," said Rina Akter Putul, a veteran acrobat and the lone female member of the group. "Making people laugh is a tough job, especially for those who lost their parents in the conflict." Laughter as medicine The UN estimates 60 percent of the more than 600,000 refugees to arrive in Bangladesh since late August are children. Many crossed the border alone from their villages in Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine State after their parents were murdered and communities driven out by state-sanctioned violence. Charities on the ground say children are in dire need of emotional and mental support after enduring such trauma on their difficult journeys. "I am sure our show will live in their memory for some time. It won't erase their scars, but it will boost their confidence," said Faker Ali, an acrobat who has worked in drama therapy for more than two decades. But it's not just the children who benefit from the visiting performers. Among the spectators who flocked to a recent show were countless elderly Rohingya refugees, clapping and smiling as the acrobats whirred rings and bars. Life has been a gruelling quest to survive for older generations of the stateless Muslim minority. Many have escaped past pogroms in Rakhine and lost family and friends in bitter cycles of ethnic violence. Rohingya are a reviled minority in Myanmar and are denied citizenship, education and opportunity by the Buddhist-majority government that regards them as illegal outsiders. Most have enjoyed few if any luxuries in their lives -- making the circus performance all the more thrilling. "We hardly have any fun," said Nesar Ahmed, 38. Even during major Islamic festivals and weddings, there is little in the way of entertainment, he added. "Life in Arakan (Rakhine) is grim," Khairul Amin, a 63-year-old grandfather, told AFP as a boisterous crowd, young and old, jostled to meet the visiting clowns. "There is no television and no cinema or theatre. And there is this constant fear you'll be killed or arrested by the military." Seated for the show with her youngest child on her lap, Rehana smiled and laughed, saying: "Never in my life have I have seen such fun."

In Bangladesh, clowns bring laughter to traumatised Rohingya children

Sitting in his hillside grocery shop in a Bangladesh refugee camp, Rohingya Muslim Momtaz-ul-Hoque takes a break to listen to an audio recording on his mobile phone, while children and passers-by gather round to hear the latest news from Myanmar.

&quot;I listen because I get some information on my motherland,&quot; said Hoque, 30, as he plays a message on WhatsApp explaining the Myanmar government&#39;s proposals for repatriating refugees.

Hoque has been in Bangladesh since an earlier bout of violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state in 1992, but the number of refugees in the camps has swelled dramatically to more than 800,000 in recent weeks, after a massive Myanmar military operation sent around 600,000 people fleeing across the border.

Tens of thousands of exhausted refugees have arrived with little more than a sack of rice, a few pots and pans and a mobile phone powered by a cheap solar battery, and many are desperate for news of what is going on back home.

With few news sources in their own language and low levels of literacy, audio and video messages distributed on apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube have become a community radio of sorts for the Muslim minority.

Dozens of WhatsApp groups have sprung up to fill the information gap. Their offerings range from grainy footage of violence, to listings of the names and numbers of people missing in the chaos of the exodus, or even an explainer from educated Rohingya on how to adjust to life in the camps.

At a shop selling cold drinks in the Leda refugee camp, two men played &quot;WhatsApp news&quot; through a loudspeaker.

Out of breath, a man narrated a scene purportedly from a village in Myanmar&#39;s Buthidaung region, according to Mohammed Zubair, a refugee who translated the broadcasts for Reuters.

&quot;They are surrounding the village. We are under attack from the military and the mogs...some people are seriously injured,&quot; Zubair translates the speaker as saying, using a derogatory term common in Bangladesh to refer to ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

&quot;I trust it 100 percent,&quot; Zubair said of the information.

Reuters was not able to verify the account.

The WhatsApp groups tend to have hundreds of members, meaning that the spread of information depends on people passing on the news.

Many of the listeners do not know who is sending the message or the trustworthiness of the broadcaster. Some said outdated or inaccurate reports were common.

&quot;In some cases, we got audio messages of villages burning in Myanmar, and when we contact people in those villages, there&#39;s nothing,&quot; said one refugee inside a tea shop in Bangladesh&#39;s Kutupalong camp.

Other refugees said videos of violence claimed to have been filmed in villages in Myanmar turned out to be footage from other countries.

Many also worry that the unregulated nature of WhatsApp groups increases opportunities for voices keen to push an agenda rather than share facts.

Rohingya rebel group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) - whose Aug. 25 attacks on security forces triggered the latest crisis - and its followers have been among the most active adopters of WhatsApp to spread their message.

Audio messages urging support, updates on the latest military movements and official press releases dominate some groups.

Several refugees in Bangladesh said they had no idea if the messages, often posted by people with phone numbers registered in the Middle East or other parts of Asia, were actually from ARSA members.

Refugees also worry that Bangladeshi security forces want to monitor the broadcasts, and are looking in the camps for ARSA supporters.

At the tea shop in Kutupalong camp, refugees have stopped listening to the broadcasts on loudspeakers during daylight hours, preferring to gather clandestinely at night instead.

Still, many Rohingyas say social media platforms play a crucial role in keeping spirits up among the community.

Tens of thousands of exhausted refugees have arrived with little more than a sack of rice, a few pots and pans and a mobile phone powered by a cheap solar battery, and many are desperate for news of what is going on back home.

Sitting in his hillside grocery shop in a Bangladesh refugee camp, Rohingya Muslim Momtaz-ul-Hoque takes a break to listen to an audio recording on his mobile phone, while children and passers-by gather round to hear the latest news from Myanmar. "I listen because I get some information on my motherland," said Hoque, 30, as he plays a message on WhatsApp explaining the Myanmar government's proposals for repatriating refugees. Hoque has been in Bangladesh since an earlier bout of violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state in 1992, but the number of refugees in the camps has swelled dramatically to more than 800,000 in recent weeks, after a massive Myanmar military operation sent around 600,000 people fleeing across the border. Tens of thousands of exhausted refugees have arrived with little more than a sack of rice, a few pots and pans and a mobile phone powered by a cheap solar battery, and many are desperate for news of what is going on back home. With few news sources in their own language and low levels of literacy, audio and video messages distributed on apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube have become a community radio of sorts for the Muslim minority. Dozens of WhatsApp groups have sprung up to fill the information gap. Their offerings range from grainy footage of violence, to listings of the names and numbers of people missing in the chaos of the exodus, or even an explainer from educated Rohingya on how to adjust to life in the camps. At a shop selling cold drinks in the Leda refugee camp, two men played "WhatsApp news" through a loudspeaker. Out of breath, a man narrated a scene purportedly from a village in Myanmar's Buthidaung region, according to Mohammed Zubair, a refugee who translated the broadcasts for Reuters. "They are surrounding the village. We are under attack from the military and the mogs...some people are seriously injured," Zubair translates the speaker as saying, using a derogatory term common in Bangladesh to refer to ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. "I trust it 100 percent," Zubair said of the information. Reuters was not able to verify the account. The WhatsApp groups tend to have hundreds of members, meaning that the spread of information depends on people passing on the news. Many of the listeners do not know who is sending the message or the trustworthiness of the broadcaster. Some said outdated or inaccurate reports were common. "In some cases, we got audio messages of villages burning in Myanmar, and when we contact people in those villages, there's nothing," said one refugee inside a tea shop in Bangladesh's Kutupalong camp. Other refugees said videos of violence claimed to have been filmed in villages in Myanmar turned out to be footage from other countries. Many also worry that the unregulated nature of WhatsApp groups increases opportunities for voices keen to push an agenda rather than share facts. Rohingya rebel group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) - whose Aug. 25 attacks on security forces triggered the latest crisis - and its followers have been among the most active adopters of WhatsApp to spread their message. Audio messages urging support, updates on the latest military movements and official press releases dominate some groups. Several refugees in Bangladesh said they had no idea if the messages, often posted by people with phone numbers registered in the Middle East or other parts of Asia, were actually from ARSA members. Refugees also worry that Bangladeshi security forces want to monitor the broadcasts, and are looking in the camps for ARSA supporters. At the tea shop in Kutupalong camp, refugees have stopped listening to the broadcasts on loudspeakers during daylight hours, preferring to gather clandestinely at night instead. Still, many Rohingyas say social media platforms play a crucial role in keeping spirits up among the community.

Now, Rohingyas tune in to 'WhatsApp radio'

Experience shows that foreign interference in crises does not work and China supports the Myanmar government&#39;s efforts to protect stability, a senior Chinese official said on Saturday, amid ongoing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-to-hear-rohingya-refugees-pil-challenging-deportation-22374" target="_blank">violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state.</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/582000-rohingya-to-bangladesh-from-myanmar-since-august-25-un-22542" target="_blank">More than 500,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled across the border to Bangladesh</a> following a counter-insurgency offensive by Myanmar&#39;s army in the wake of militant attacks on security forces.

UN officials have described Myanmar&#39;s strategy as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States held Myanmar&#39;s military leadership responsible for its harsh crackdown.

Guo Yezhou, a deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party&#39;s international department, told reporters on the sidelines of a party congress that China condemned the attacks in Rakhine and understands and supports Myanmar&#39;s efforts to protect peace and stability there.

China and Myanmar have a deep, long-standing friendship, and China believes Myanmar can handle its problems on its own, he added.

Asked why China&#39;s approach to the Rohingya crisis was different from Western nations, Guo said that China&#39;s principle was not to interfere in the internal affairs of another country.

&quot;Based on experience, you can see recently the consequences when one country interferes in another. We won&#39;t do it,&quot; he said, without offering any examples of when interventions go wrong.

China does not want instability in Myanmar as it inevitably will be affected as they share a long land border, Guo said.

&quot;We condemn violent and terrorist acts,&quot; he added.

Guo&#39;s department has been at the forefront of building relations with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who visited China in 2015 at the Communist Party&#39;s invitation, rather than the Chinese government&#39;s.

Department head Song Tao also visited Myanmar in August and met Suu Kyi.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/another-boat-carrying-rohingya-muslims-sinks-5-killed-22471" target="_blank">Rohingya Muslims</a> have fled Myanmar in large numbers since late August when Rohingya insurgent attacks sparked a ferocious military response, with the fleeing people accusing security forces of arson, killings and rape.

The European Union and the United States have been considering targeted sanctions against Myanmar&#39;s military leadership.

Punitive measures aimed specifically at top generals are among a range of options that have been discussed, but they are wary of action that could hurt the wider economy or destabilize already tense ties between Suu Kyi and the army.

Guo Yezhou, a deputy head of the Communist Party's international department, said China understands and supports Myanmar's efforts to protect peace and stability

Experience shows that foreign interference in crises does not work and China supports the Myanmar government's efforts to protect stability, a senior Chinese official said on Saturday, amid ongoing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. More than 500,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled across the border to Bangladesh following a counter-insurgency offensive by Myanmar's army in the wake of militant attacks on security forces. UN officials have described Myanmar's strategy as "ethnic cleansing". US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States held Myanmar's military leadership responsible for its harsh crackdown. Guo Yezhou, a deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party's international department, told reporters on the sidelines of a party congress that China condemned the attacks in Rakhine and understands and supports Myanmar's efforts to protect peace and stability there. China and Myanmar have a deep, long-standing friendship, and China believes Myanmar can handle its problems on its own, he added. Asked why China's approach to the Rohingya crisis was different from Western nations, Guo said that China's principle was not to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. "Based on experience, you can see recently the consequences when one country interferes in another. We won't do it," he said, without offering any examples of when interventions go wrong. China does not want instability in Myanmar as it inevitably will be affected as they share a long land border, Guo said. "We condemn violent and terrorist acts," he added. Guo's department has been at the forefront of building relations with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who visited China in 2015 at the Communist Party's invitation, rather than the Chinese government's. Department head Song Tao also visited Myanmar in August and met Suu Kyi. Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar in large numbers since late August when Rohingya insurgent attacks sparked a ferocious military response, with the fleeing people accusing security forces of arson, killings and rape. The European Union and the United States have been considering targeted sanctions against Myanmar's military leadership. Punitive measures aimed specifically at top generals are among a range of options that have been discussed, but they are wary of action that could hurt the wider economy or destabilize already tense ties between Suu Kyi and the army.

Rohingya crisis: China official says foreign interference does not work

The UN refugee agency said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-india-can-lead-efforts-to-solve-rohingya-crisis-china-daily-22493">between 10,000 to 15,000 new&nbsp;Rohingya refugees </a>arrived at the Bangladesh border in the last 48 hours, informing that at least 582,000&nbsp;Rohingyas have fled Myanmar so far with several thousands still stranded at the border.

Last week the United Nations had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bangladesh-steps-up-security-on-india-border-over-rohingya-fears-22461">said over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into Bangladesh</a> in one day after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day.

Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar&#39;s northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw, Reuters had reported.

One Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the new arrivals were being held in an area of no man&#39;s land, although it was not immediately clear why.

He said UNHCR staff had spoken with people who described walking for a week to reach the Bangladesh border.&nbsp;Most are still squatting in paddy fields in Bangladesh, and were waiting for permission to move away from the border, he said.

&quot;Every minute counts given the fragile condition they&#39;re arriving in,&quot; said Mahecic.&nbsp;Mahecic said many had chosen to remain in their homes in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state despite repeated threats to leave or be killed.

&quot;They finally fled when their villages were set on fire,&quot; he said.

The United States had had earlier accused Myanmar of &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi&#39;s government.

&nbsp;

After the coordinated Rohingya insurgents attack in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, almost 582,000 Rohingya have fled Bangladesh since August 25

The UN refugee agency said today between 10,000 to 15,000 new Rohingya refugees arrived at the Bangladesh border in the last 48 hours, informing that at least 582,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar so far with several thousands still stranded at the border. Last week the United Nations had said over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into Bangladesh in one day after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day. Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw, Reuters had reported. One Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the new arrivals were being held in an area of no man's land, although it was not immediately clear why. He said UNHCR staff had spoken with people who described walking for a week to reach the Bangladesh border. Most are still squatting in paddy fields in Bangladesh, and were waiting for permission to move away from the border, he said. "Every minute counts given the fragile condition they're arriving in," said Mahecic. Mahecic said many had chosen to remain in their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state despite repeated threats to leave or be killed. "They finally fled when their villages were set on fire," he said. The United States had had earlier accused Myanmar of "ethnic cleansing" of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi's government.

10,000 to15,000 Rohingyas crossed over to Bangladesh in last 48 hours: UN

The Supreme Court will today hear a Public Interest Litigation filed by two Rohingya Muslims that challenges the Indian government&#39;s decision to deport around 40,000 people of the community.&nbsp;

The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra, had earlier said it will hear in detail various aspects of the case including the government&#39;s preliminary objection that the issue falls under the domain of the executive and cannot be decided by the judiciary.

The Supreme Court had also asked the central government and the Rohingya Muslims to desist from making emotional arguments and personal attacks and to file documents, including international conventions.

The top court made it clear that it will hear arguments only on the points of law, ANI reported.

In their petition, the two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, argue that they had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there.&nbsp;

They contend that many Rohingyas, who had fled to India after the earlier spate of violence, are settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

Besides Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the bench comprises of Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud,&nbsp; 
 
The Indian government earlier told the top court that besides being a security threat because of links to the ISI and the IS, Rohingyas will exhaust natural resources meant for Indian citizens resulting in hostility and social tensions.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-links-with-is-isi-rohingya-refugee-to-supreme-court-20549">Another Rohingya refugee then filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India</a>, denying the Indian government&#39;s claims that the Muslim community from Myanmar has terror links with Pakistan&#39;s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Islamic State.

The affidavit states that the Rohingyas should be treated at par with Tibetan and Sri Lankan refugees.

Meanwhile, a group of civil society activists have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for a &quot;new and bold vision&quot; to end the Rohingya crisis and not to deport the 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently residing in India.

The activists, which include human rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, former Union minister P Cgidambaram and journalist Karan Thapar, ask to India to &quot;exert its diplomatic clout to pressurise the Government of Myanmar to end the security crackdown in Rakhine.&quot;

The three-judge bench had earlier said it will hear in detail various aspects of the case including the government's preliminary objection that the issue falls under the domain of the executive

The Supreme Court will today hear a Public Interest Litigation filed by two Rohingya Muslims that challenges the Indian government's decision to deport around 40,000 people of the community. The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra, had earlier said it will hear in detail various aspects of the case including the government's preliminary objection that the issue falls under the domain of the executive and cannot be decided by the judiciary. The Supreme Court had also asked the central government and the Rohingya Muslims to desist from making emotional arguments and personal attacks and to file documents, including international conventions. The top court made it clear that it will hear arguments only on the points of law, ANI reported. In their petition, the two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, argue that they had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there. They contend that many Rohingyas, who had fled to India after the earlier spate of violence, are settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan. Besides Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the bench comprises of Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, The Indian government earlier told the top court that besides being a security threat because of links to the ISI and the IS, Rohingyas will exhaust natural resources meant for Indian citizens resulting in hostility and social tensions. Another Rohingya refugee then filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India, denying the Indian government's claims that the Muslim community from Myanmar has terror links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Islamic State. The affidavit states that the Rohingyas should be treated at par with Tibetan and Sri Lankan refugees. Meanwhile, a group of civil society activists have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for a "new and bold vision" to end the Rohingya crisis and not to deport the 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently residing in India. The activists, which include human rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, former Union minister P Cgidambaram and journalist Karan Thapar, ask to India to "exert its diplomatic clout to pressurise the Government of Myanmar to end the security crackdown in Rakhine."

Supreme Court to hear Rohingya refugees' PIL challenging deportation

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed on Monday to set up a &quot;working group&quot; to plan<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-to-press-for-muslim-refugees-return-to-myanmar-20902" target="_blank"> the repatriation of more than half a million Rohingya refugees</a> who have fled to Bangladesh to escape an army crackdown, the Bangladesh&nbsp;foreign minister said.

The United Nations has called the exodus of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/refugee-family-hunters-bring-hope-to-rohingya-children-20778" target="_blank">507,000 Rohingya since late August the world&#39;s fastest-developing refugee emergency</a> and says Buddhist-majority Myanmar is engaging in ethnic cleansing against its Rohingya Muslim minority.

Myanmar denies that. It says its forces are battling Rohingya &quot;terrorists&quot; who triggered the latest wave of violence with coordinated attacks on the security forces on August 25.

Myanmar says more than 500 people have been killed since, most of them insurgents, whom it has accused of attacking civilians and setting most of the fires that have reduced to ashes more than half of more than 400 Rohingya villages in the north of Rakhine State.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said he and Myanmar official Kyaw Tint Swe had agreed in their talks to set up the working group to draw up plans for repatriation.

&quot;We are looking forward to a peaceful solution to the crisis,&quot; Ali told reporters.

Kyaw Tint Swe did not speak to the media and government spokesmen in Myanmar were not immediately available for comment.

Waves of Rohingya have taken refuge in Bangladesh over the years complaining of persecution, in particular in the late 1970s, the early 1990s and in October last year, following smaller insurgent attacks on the security forces.

The neighbours have agreed on repatriation plans before, but the fundamental problem - the status of Rohingya in Myanmar - remains unsettled.

The Rohingya are denied citizenship and classified as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots in Myanmar that go back centuries, with communities marginalised and subjected to bouts of communal violence over the years.

Ali, asked about agreements in the past having little impact, said: &quot;This time we want to be hopeful.&rdquo;

In Geneva, UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told a meeting problem of statelessness had to be tackled.

&quot;Nowhere is the link between statelessness and displacement more evident than with the Rohingya community,&quot; he said.

The crisis over the treatment of the Rohingya is the biggest problem Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has had to face since forming a government last year after winning a landmark 2015 election.

The Nobel peace laureate, in an address to the nation last month, said Myanmar was ready to start a verification process under a 1993 agreement with Bangladesh and &quot;refugees from this country will be accepted without any problem&quot;.

But many refugees are gloomy about the prospects of going back, fearing they will not be able to furnish the documents they anticipate Myanmar will demand to prove they have a right to return.

Myanmar has refused to grant access to a UN&nbsp;fact-finding mission but Suu Kyi last year appointed a team led by former UN&nbsp;secretary-general Kofi Annan to draw up recommendations on solving problems in Rakhine.

The commission presented its recommendations on August 24, a day before the insurgent attacks, among them a review of a law that links citizenship and ethnicity and leaves most Rohingya stateless.

The panel also recommended that the government punish rights violations, ensure the right to freedom of movement and invest in infrastructure to lift the state out of poverty.

Suu Kyi, in her address to the nation last month, said she was committed to the recommendations.

There were already about 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh before the latest exodus.

In Myanmar, the government took a group of diplomats and senior UN&nbsp;officials to Rakhine to let them see the situation.

&quot;Maungdaw feels like a ghost town,&quot; Swiss ambassador Paul Seger said on Twitter, as he arrived in the main town in the north of Rakhine.

Myanmar has blocked most aid workers and the media from the area, despite calls from Western countries for access to deal with what aid groups fear is an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

The diplomats were taken to various places including the Rohingya village of Ah Nauk Pyin, which Reuters reported last month was cut off and threatened by hostile Rakhine Buddhist neighbours. An itinerary of the trip referred to the report.

After the visit, the United Nations repeated a call for an end to the violence, for access to the conflict zone for aid workers and for the safe return of refugees.

&quot;The UN&nbsp;delegation reiterated the need for a greater access for humanitarian and human rights actors to conduct comprehensive assessments the situation,&quot; it said in a statement. It also said the media should have access.

Suu Kyi has been accused by Western critics of not speaking out strongly enough on behalf of the long-persecuted minority and of defending the army action. She has no power over security policy under a military-drafted constitution.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said he and Myanmar official Kyaw Tint Swe had agreed in their talks to set up the working group to draw up plans for repatriation

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed on Monday to set up a "working group" to plan the repatriation of more than half a million Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh to escape an army crackdown, the Bangladesh foreign minister said. The United Nations has called the exodus of 507,000 Rohingya since late August the world's fastest-developing refugee emergency and says Buddhist-majority Myanmar is engaging in ethnic cleansing against its Rohingya Muslim minority. Myanmar denies that. It says its forces are battling Rohingya "terrorists" who triggered the latest wave of violence with coordinated attacks on the security forces on August 25. Myanmar says more than 500 people have been killed since, most of them insurgents, whom it has accused of attacking civilians and setting most of the fires that have reduced to ashes more than half of more than 400 Rohingya villages in the north of Rakhine State. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said he and Myanmar official Kyaw Tint Swe had agreed in their talks to set up the working group to draw up plans for repatriation. "We are looking forward to a peaceful solution to the crisis," Ali told reporters. Kyaw Tint Swe did not speak to the media and government spokesmen in Myanmar were not immediately available for comment. Waves of Rohingya have taken refuge in Bangladesh over the years complaining of persecution, in particular in the late 1970s, the early 1990s and in October last year, following smaller insurgent attacks on the security forces. The neighbours have agreed on repatriation plans before, but the fundamental problem - the status of Rohingya in Myanmar - remains unsettled. The Rohingya are denied citizenship and classified as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots in Myanmar that go back centuries, with communities marginalised and subjected to bouts of communal violence over the years. Ali, asked about agreements in the past having little impact, said: "This time we want to be hopeful.” In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told a meeting problem of statelessness had to be tackled. "Nowhere is the link between statelessness and displacement more evident than with the Rohingya community," he said. The crisis over the treatment of the Rohingya is the biggest problem Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has had to face since forming a government last year after winning a landmark 2015 election. The Nobel peace laureate, in an address to the nation last month, said Myanmar was ready to start a verification process under a 1993 agreement with Bangladesh and "refugees from this country will be accepted without any problem". But many refugees are gloomy about the prospects of going back, fearing they will not be able to furnish the documents they anticipate Myanmar will demand to prove they have a right to return. Myanmar has refused to grant access to a UN fact-finding mission but Suu Kyi last year appointed a team led by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan to draw up recommendations on solving problems in Rakhine. The commission presented its recommendations on August 24, a day before the insurgent attacks, among them a review of a law that links citizenship and ethnicity and leaves most Rohingya stateless. The panel also recommended that the government punish rights violations, ensure the right to freedom of movement and invest in infrastructure to lift the state out of poverty. Suu Kyi, in her address to the nation last month, said she was committed to the recommendations. There were already about 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh before the latest exodus. In Myanmar, the government took a group of diplomats and senior UN officials to Rakhine to let them see the situation. "Maungdaw feels like a ghost town," Swiss ambassador Paul Seger said on Twitter, as he arrived in the main town in the north of Rakhine. Myanmar has blocked most aid workers and the media from the area, despite calls from Western countries for access to deal with what aid groups fear is an unfolding humanitarian crisis. The diplomats were taken to various places including the Rohingya village of Ah Nauk Pyin, which Reuters reported last month was cut off and threatened by hostile Rakhine Buddhist neighbours. An itinerary of the trip referred to the report. After the visit, the United Nations repeated a call for an end to the violence, for access to the conflict zone for aid workers and for the safe return of refugees. "The UN delegation reiterated the need for a greater access for humanitarian and human rights actors to conduct comprehensive assessments the situation," it said in a statement. It also said the media should have access. Suu Kyi has been accused by Western critics of not speaking out strongly enough on behalf of the long-persecuted minority and of defending the army action. She has no power over security policy under a military-drafted constitution.

Myanmar has agreed to draw up plan for Rohingya refugees repatriation: Bangladesh foreign minister

The UN has said the death toll from the capsizing of the boat carrying Rohingya refugees is likely to cross 60.&nbsp;

The boat capsized off the coast of Bangladesh on Thursday.&nbsp;

AFP reported&nbsp;Internation Organisation for Migration spokesman Joel Millman as saying 23 people had been confirmed dead.&nbsp;

There are 40 people missing; they are for the moment presumed dead.&nbsp;

Witnesses and survivors said the boat was just metres from the Bangladesh coast when it was lashed by high winds and rain.&nbsp;

&quot;Survivors described being at sea all night, having no food,&quot; AFP quoted Millman as saying.&nbsp;

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A man watches as the bodies of the dead are brought ashore. (Reuters)
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So far, 23 people have been confirmed dead. (Reuters)
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The boat was carrying almost 80 Rohingya refugees, including 50 children.&nbsp;

AFP quoted Millman as saying the captain of the boat, a suspected trafficker, was also missing.&nbsp;

He too is presumed dead, although he has not been included in the IOM death toll which counts only migrants.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The boat capsized just metres off the coast of Bangladesh on Thursday

The UN has said the death toll from the capsizing of the boat carrying Rohingya refugees is likely to cross 60. The boat capsized off the coast of Bangladesh on Thursday. AFP reported Internation Organisation for Migration spokesman Joel Millman as saying 23 people had been confirmed dead. There are 40 people missing; they are for the moment presumed dead. Witnesses and survivors said the boat was just metres from the Bangladesh coast when it was lashed by high winds and rain. "Survivors described being at sea all night, having no food," AFP quoted Millman as saying. A man watches as the bodies of the dead are brought ashore. (Reuters) × So far, 23 people have been confirmed dead. (Reuters) × The boat was carrying almost 80 Rohingya refugees, including 50 children. AFP quoted Millman as saying the captain of the boat, a suspected trafficker, was also missing. He too is presumed dead, although he has not been included in the IOM death toll which counts only migrants.

Rohingya boat capsize: Death toll likely to cross 60, says UN

Bangladesh is faced with a multi-pronged crisis. The ongoing influx of Rohingya refugees in the hundreds of thousands has tested the country, while the situation and its implications will define geopolitics in the region in the coming days.&nbsp;

WION&rsquo;s Bangladesh Bureau Chief&nbsp;Saad Hammadi&nbsp;spoke to&nbsp;Hossain Toufique Imam, the political affairs adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Saad Hammadi: Advisor Imam, thank you for joining us.&nbsp;

To begin with, we have come across a recent report of a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on&nbsp;August 24. The Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office in Bangladesh has dismissed the report saying that it is false and irresponsible journalism. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has survived several assassination attempts in the past. For the record for our audience, please share with us when was the last time Prime Minister Hasina has survived such an assassination attempt.

Hossain Toufique Imam: The most serious attempt was on the 21st of August, 2004. That was the grenade attack not only our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, she was the leader of the opposition at the time, but also the entire top leadership of Awami League. That was the plan of the then ruling party. It was essentially state managed., state organised, state-orchestrated. The then state minister for home and prime minister&rsquo;s son were directly involved. There have been multiple cases on this. The main murder case revolving the&nbsp;21st August&nbsp;is nearing an end. The evidences, witnesses and the documents revealed that the totality of the plan was very well executed. They were able to kill at least 22 leaders of the party including Ivy Rahman, who was a very respected leader and wife of the last president of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman. Almost 500 were injured. There are still many people who are bearing the scars of that attack. Thirteen arges grenades exploded, which are used in war only. They were manufactured in Pakistan. The grenades that were recovered later, they were all arges grenades with the seal of Pakistan Ordnance Factory.&nbsp;

SH: As we look into the present crisis that Bangladesh is facing with, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army has waged an armed struggle in Myanmar and some of them may have joined with the Rohingyas who have fled into Bangladesh. We have come across reports suggesting that this terrorist outfit has nexus with the opposition party and the Pakistan intelligence. They may be orchestrating attacks in the future. What are your thoughts on this?

HTI: You see this is a very old problem. The relationship between the Rohingyas and our people here, between the militants, goes back to many years. It was during Pakistan time that the Rohingya Liberation Front was organised. The Rohingya Liberation Army was created. With both of them, the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan was deeply involved with funding from abroad. That had continued for many years. Only during the period of Bangabandhu between the early 1972 and mid-1975, they were expelled. There was trace of Rohingya militant camps in Bangladesh. Then, after Bangabandhu&rsquo;s death, the external operatives came back. The militants also came back and from 1975 to 1996, almost continuously throughout this period, there was nexus between the government in power, first Ziaur Rahman, then General Ershad, then again Begum Khaleda Zia, during all that time they received assistance. The government turned the eyes away when it came to their knowledge. The result was the militants with other groups here started movement easily. The late Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who was hanged last year, who was a top leader of BNP and earlier at the Muslim League, was reportedly the major connection for not only giving the militants assistance but also in gun running. Arms and ammunition used to flow in that corridor. Many of these were sent to India for the northeastern states, the seven sisters. It was a safe haven for movement of arms and ammunition, drugs and now you can see Yaba, and also human trafficking. These usually go together. That&rsquo;s why I say that it&rsquo;s a long history. Only during the first term of Sheikh Hasina between 1996 and 2000, she was able to drive them out again. That was the period of lull. During that period the Prime Minister was able to solve the crisis in Chittagong Hill Tracts. She signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord. That was held throughout the world. Peace came back to Chittagong Hill Tracts. The accord has been more or less implemented by them. At the time of signing this agreement, there was so much of opposition from Pakistan, from BNP, from Jamaat. It is on record that Begum Zia said that if the peace accord is signed, the next day Indian, the Indian flags will fly in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Feni will become part of India. There was a massive propaganda against the peace accord. That itself suggests that BNP did not like and want that there is any peace there. That would ensure the free flow of arms, ammunition, drugs, human trafficking and control by the ISI. The period between 2001-2006 was the worst. Not only for the local people but all the militants, the rise of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh and most recently we hear about other militant groups&rsquo; names, they were involved in the racket.

SH: We have recently come across reports that the Rohingya insurgent groups may be conspiring with the opposition in Bangladesh and the intelligence of Pakistan to hatch attacks in Bangladesh. How credible are these threats?&nbsp;

HTI: Given the background and what they did in the past, the nexus that was seen in August 2004, you can presume that they are not sitting idle. Only a few days back one of the staunch supporters of BNP, a retired major general Fazlur Rahman came out with a suggestion that we should not only give shelter to the Rohingyas but we should create a Rohingya army and that will go and that will create their own land in Rakhine province and that will be an independent Rakhine. But this is an atrocious idea. Some of the BNP leaders say that Bangladesh should have done more. What else can be done? The ovation that was given to Bangladesh Prime Minister at the UN, even the United States along with United Kingdom, France and several members of the security council convened the meeting to discuss Rohingya issues for a third time. They are all coming to support in a very large manner which they didn&rsquo;t do before. This time around I think we have been able to really make it an international issue. The BNP and Jamaat are for more aggressive stance. Where would it lead us to? Do you want a war with Myanmar? That is what they are suggesting because sending trained guerrillas from Bangladesh, let us say Rohingya Liberation Army or the ARSA with arms and training in Bangladesh into Myanmar would immediately bring in Myanmar reaction and our armed forces would be face to face with them. That is what they want.&nbsp;

SH: The Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has had an informal meeting with the foreign ministers in New York and she has said that the regional cooperation among the SAARC member states are facing an impediment due to the peace and security crisis in the region. Bangladesh is, of course, a key member in the regional and economic cooperation and corridors such as the BCIM and BBIN. With the violence erupting in Myanmar and the impact on Bangladesh, how do you see these regional pacts being impacted?

HTI: Naturally, I think Sushma Swaraj is right that our regional cooperation is not working the way it should. In fact, it has never taken off the way it should have.&nbsp;

What is very important (to notice) is that&nbsp;within six hours&nbsp;of the publication of the Kofi Annan report, the ARSA militants attacked more than 25 Burmese border police outposts and even an army camp. It was very well orchestrated. We have heard, I don&rsquo;t have any confirmation, that the timing had something to do with meetings that were held in London, also in Karachi and the attacks.&nbsp;

The other thing that poses a big question is why now? Bangladesh is on a very rapid stride on development, we have achieved a very remarkable 7.2 growth rate, all the major projects, mega projects and other projects that this government has taken up, the seventh five-year plan is nearing completion. We have completed all the MDG goals. We have now launched in a very large manner the SDG goals. We are poised to become a middle-income country by 2021. This is on the development scenario. On the other side, the elections are around. Bangladesh national elections will be held in a year&rsquo;s time. This is the time when they have chosen, in my own analysis, to start this. Last October there was a similar crisis but on a much lower scale. That time also the Rohingya exodus was sparked off by the militants. At that time almost 200,000 came in. First, we stopped them and later on they were allowed to come in. This time the Myanmar government has also responded that we should work out a joint strategy for meting (out) this common enemy, the ARSA. They are threatening the security of not only of Myanmar, security of Bangladesh and also security of India. India has a common border with Myanmar very near that point.&nbsp;

SH: You have referred about meetings in Karachi and London. Could you be more specific about who you are referring to or what these meetings were about? Is there any information that Bangladesh or its intelligence agencies have acquired that you can share with us?

HTI: I am afraid I cannot share it with you because it is not our own intelligence agencies. I have read reports from outside. Some of them from India. There are people, think tanks, organisations which are keeping tabs on all of these developments. From them, I have learnt this. During my recent visit to Calcutta, I heard the grapevines. There are lot of rumours about these meetings. I can neither confirm nor deny these meetings.&nbsp;

SH: But who are these people who may have been part of hatching this conspiracy?

HTI: Most likely it would be the people who would benefit. I would leave it to you to conjecture about who are the people or the organisations or the agencies who would benefit from such an attack.

SH: If we look into the geopolitical aspect on the note that we started that the Rohingya crisis has given Bangladesh a clear sign or an indication of who the real friends of Bangladesh are. Tell us what you have learnt about your friends and allies given that beyond the humanitarian assistance there has not been much pressure put into Myanmar to stop the violence.

HTI: In the last two to three days there has been increasing pressure being put on Myanmar. The heat is on. That has prompted the Myanmar leader, Ms Aung Suu Kyi, to come out with some suggestions, some proposals even.&nbsp;

If we say that this has given the opportunity for us to select our friend or our enemies, that would be too simplistic an approach. You can&rsquo;t identify friends or enemies like that. In times of crisis, those who side by you solidly are of course your friends. Now, for example, Russia is our very good friend. In spite of that Russia has not played the role it could have played. They have their own national interests to safeguard. That&rsquo;s one thing. We know that China has been a very old friend of Pakistan and China has for many years been in Myanmar. They have invested heavily in Myanmar. They have trained and armed the Myanmar army and all of those. China has a much longer border with Myanmar. Also, China has its own share of the problem. They have given shelter to a large part of the Shan rebels. They have their own interests. National interests [come] first and then friendship. For India, initially there was some misgivings here but India has come out very strongly for us. The one problem that India has is common to us again, the militancy. Regarding militancy, we have zero tolerance against militancy in Bangladesh. It has two aspects: one, we will not allow any militant to grow in Bangladesh, far from being able to operate, secondly, since the Holey Artisan incident we have not allowed any militant to concentrate or gather strength here in Bangladesh. Most recently, the Rapid Action Battalion and our intelligence agencies have been able to bust a huge group which has been responsible for money laundering and funding the militant activities in Bangladesh. Eleven of them were caught here and their mastermind was caught simultaneously in Spain. That was a real successful operation. We have success stories of operations against militancy in Bangladesh. Bangladesh will not allow any group to use the soil of Bangladesh against the integrity or sovereignty of any of our neighbours, that is most importantly India and then Myanmar and even Bhutan. These are the pillars of our policies.&nbsp;

SH: Bangladesh government has signed a defence pact with India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s visit to India this year. We have learnt that this defence pact paves the way for a security cooperation between the two countries. What does this security cooperation between India and Bangladesh entail?

HTI: The document was made public. There is no secret defence pact between India and Bangladesh. We will collaborate in all areas of security, which we have been doing. India also offered us facilities for training and line of credit for purchase of defence equipment from India. All of these are usual aspects of mutual pacts against any aggression from outside. In times of crisis, we will stand by each other.&nbsp;

SH: How about some of the report suggesting that there would be joint military exercise on both sides if need be?

HTI: Not that I am aware of. If you had alerted me I would have gotten a copy of the defence treaty and tell you what is there.&nbsp;

SH: But some critiques of the treaty have been laying concerns on those areas.

HTI: You might recall that the Bangladesh-India mutual friendship treaty, which was signed in 1972, came under constant attack from BNP, Jamaat and other critiques from even General Ershad&rsquo;s party. On completion of the 25 years period, when the treaty was made public, you will see what is there. There is no secret agreement for any military assistance from India or from Bangladesh. All these are wild guesswork and an attempt to sabotage the relationship. There are many in Bangladesh or for that matter in India, who do not like closer cooperation between Bangladesh and India.

SH: India and Russia are collaborating on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as we get to hear from some of the reports. Please clarify to us what kind of assistance is Bangladesh seeking in the Nuclear power project that India would be assisting Russia as well.

HTI: I am not aware of any Russian-Indian agreement. We have signed an agreement with Russia. That is a long-term credit and also for the establishment of the Rooppur power plant. It is done entirely by Russian companies under Russian supervision. All these are being done in accordance with International Atomic Energy Commission&rsquo;s supervision and mandates. They have constant supervision here as well.

SH: My last question to you as we conclude, the 2014 elections in Bangladesh was deemed controversial by some of the international community for the lack of participation of the majority opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The next election is coming ahead. What is the government&rsquo;s effort in making the elections conducive and so that the opposition BNP also participates to make this election credible?

HTI: Again there are two aspects here. The elections are conducted according to our constitution by the Election Commission. The Bangladesh Election Commission today is totally an independent entity and under the constitution, the election commission has been strengthened over the years. We have initiated the steps for the strengthening of election commission itself, making it independent financially and also for setting the timing and all that. Most importantly, as soon as the Election Commission declares the schedule for the elections, the government in power resigns and then the president forms an interim government. The interim government under the constitution has very limited powers. It will only perform routine works, nothing beyond, no new expenditure, no new projects, and it is mandated to provide all the support that is requisitioned by the election commission.&nbsp;

The election commission is holding series of dialogues with different groups of people, with political parties, media, intelligentsia. All of these are being held. It is almost at the end. BNP will also go soon. Bangladesh Awami League will have its dialogue with the Election Commission on the&nbsp;18th of October. All the parties have submitted various proposals for holding free, fair, transparent and credible elections. That&rsquo;s what we want. That is what we have been saying.

In 2014 BNP not only refrained from participating in the election, you know the havoc they created with the firebombing of buses, trucks and even steamers and launches and railways. If BNP had just boycotted the elections and remained peaceful, the international community would have seen it differently. Initially, I must admit, a part of the international community were hesitant to accept the results, but later on when they found that it was BNP which tried to foil the elections, gradually the international community accepted the results. There was no denial of the facts.

Hossain Toufique Imam says 'It was during Pakistan time that the Rohingya Liberation Front was organised'

Bangladesh is faced with a multi-pronged crisis. The ongoing influx of Rohingya refugees in the hundreds of thousands has tested the country, while the situation and its implications will define geopolitics in the region in the coming days. WION’s Bangladesh Bureau Chief Saad Hammadi spoke to Hossain Toufique Imam, the political affairs adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Saad Hammadi: Advisor Imam, thank you for joining us. To begin with, we have come across a recent report of a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 24. The Prime Minister’s Office in Bangladesh has dismissed the report saying that it is false and irresponsible journalism. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has survived several assassination attempts in the past. For the record for our audience, please share with us when was the last time Prime Minister Hasina has survived such an assassination attempt. Hossain Toufique Imam: The most serious attempt was on the 21st of August, 2004. That was the grenade attack not only our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, she was the leader of the opposition at the time, but also the entire top leadership of Awami League. That was the plan of the then ruling party. It was essentially state managed., state organised, state-orchestrated. The then state minister for home and prime minister’s son were directly involved. There have been multiple cases on this. The main murder case revolving the 21st August is nearing an end. The evidences, witnesses and the documents revealed that the totality of the plan was very well executed. They were able to kill at least 22 leaders of the party including Ivy Rahman, who was a very respected leader and wife of the last president of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman. Almost 500 were injured. There are still many people who are bearing the scars of that attack. Thirteen arges grenades exploded, which are used in war only. They were manufactured in Pakistan. The grenades that were recovered later, they were all arges grenades with the seal of Pakistan Ordnance Factory. SH: As we look into the present crisis that Bangladesh is facing with, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army has waged an armed struggle in Myanmar and some of them may have joined with the Rohingyas who have fled into Bangladesh. We have come across reports suggesting that this terrorist outfit has nexus with the opposition party and the Pakistan intelligence. They may be orchestrating attacks in the future. What are your thoughts on this? HTI: You see this is a very old problem. The relationship between the Rohingyas and our people here, between the militants, goes back to many years. It was during Pakistan time that the Rohingya Liberation Front was organised. The Rohingya Liberation Army was created. With both of them, the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan was deeply involved with funding from abroad. That had continued for many years. Only during the period of Bangabandhu between the early 1972 and mid-1975, they were expelled. There was trace of Rohingya militant camps in Bangladesh. Then, after Bangabandhu’s death, the external operatives came back. The militants also came back and from 1975 to 1996, almost continuously throughout this period, there was nexus between the government in power, first Ziaur Rahman, then General Ershad, then again Begum Khaleda Zia, during all that time they received assistance. The government turned the eyes away when it came to their knowledge. The result was the militants with other groups here started movement easily. The late Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who was hanged last year, who was a top leader of BNP and earlier at the Muslim League, was reportedly the major connection for not only giving the militants assistance but also in gun running. Arms and ammunition used to flow in that corridor. Many of these were sent to India for the northeastern states, the seven sisters. It was a safe haven for movement of arms and ammunition, drugs and now you can see Yaba, and also human trafficking. These usually go together. That’s why I say that it’s a long history. Only during the first term of Sheikh Hasina between 1996 and 2000, she was able to drive them out again. That was the period of lull. During that period the Prime Minister was able to solve the crisis in Chittagong Hill Tracts. She signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord. That was held throughout the world. Peace came back to Chittagong Hill Tracts. The accord has been more or less implemented by them. At the time of signing this agreement, there was so much of opposition from Pakistan, from BNP, from Jamaat. It is on record that Begum Zia said that if the peace accord is signed, the next day Indian, the Indian flags will fly in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Feni will become part of India. There was a massive propaganda against the peace accord. That itself suggests that BNP did not like and want that there is any peace there. That would ensure the free flow of arms, ammunition, drugs, human trafficking and control by the ISI. The period between 2001-2006 was the worst. Not only for the local people but all the militants, the rise of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh and most recently we hear about other militant groups’ names, they were involved in the racket. SH: We have recently come across reports that the Rohingya insurgent groups may be conspiring with the opposition in Bangladesh and the intelligence of Pakistan to hatch attacks in Bangladesh. How credible are these threats? HTI: Given the background and what they did in the past, the nexus that was seen in August 2004, you can presume that they are not sitting idle. Only a few days back one of the staunch supporters of BNP, a retired major general Fazlur Rahman came out with a suggestion that we should not only give shelter to the Rohingyas but we should create a Rohingya army and that will go and that will create their own land in Rakhine province and that will be an independent Rakhine. But this is an atrocious idea. Some of the BNP leaders say that Bangladesh should have done more. What else can be done? The ovation that was given to Bangladesh Prime Minister at the UN, even the United States along with United Kingdom, France and several members of the security council convened the meeting to discuss Rohingya issues for a third time. They are all coming to support in a very large manner which they didn’t do before. This time around I think we have been able to really make it an international issue. The BNP and Jamaat are for more aggressive stance. Where would it lead us to? Do you want a war with Myanmar? That is what they are suggesting because sending trained guerrillas from Bangladesh, let us say Rohingya Liberation Army or the ARSA with arms and training in Bangladesh into Myanmar would immediately bring in Myanmar reaction and our armed forces would be face to face with them. That is what they want. SH: The Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has had an informal meeting with the foreign ministers in New York and she has said that the regional cooperation among the SAARC member states are facing an impediment due to the peace and security crisis in the region. Bangladesh is, of course, a key member in the regional and economic cooperation and corridors such as the BCIM and BBIN. With the violence erupting in Myanmar and the impact on Bangladesh, how do you see these regional pacts being impacted? HTI: Naturally, I think Sushma Swaraj is right that our regional cooperation is not working the way it should. In fact, it has never taken off the way it should have. What is very important (to notice) is that within six hours of the publication of the Kofi Annan report, the ARSA militants attacked more than 25 Burmese border police outposts and even an army camp. It was very well orchestrated. We have heard, I don’t have any confirmation, that the timing had something to do with meetings that were held in London, also in Karachi and the attacks. The other thing that poses a big question is why now? Bangladesh is on a very rapid stride on development, we have achieved a very remarkable 7.2 growth rate, all the major projects, mega projects and other projects that this government has taken up, the seventh five-year plan is nearing completion. We have completed all the MDG goals. We have now launched in a very large manner the SDG goals. We are poised to become a middle-income country by 2021. This is on the development scenario. On the other side, the elections are around. Bangladesh national elections will be held in a year’s time. This is the time when they have chosen, in my own analysis, to start this. Last October there was a similar crisis but on a much lower scale. That time also the Rohingya exodus was sparked off by the militants. At that time almost 200,000 came in. First, we stopped them and later on they were allowed to come in. This time the Myanmar government has also responded that we should work out a joint strategy for meting (out) this common enemy, the ARSA. They are threatening the security of not only of Myanmar, security of Bangladesh and also security of India. India has a common border with Myanmar very near that point. SH: You have referred about meetings in Karachi and London. Could you be more specific about who you are referring to or what these meetings were about? Is there any information that Bangladesh or its intelligence agencies have acquired that you can share with us? HTI: I am afraid I cannot share it with you because it is not our own intelligence agencies. I have read reports from outside. Some of them from India. There are people, think tanks, organisations which are keeping tabs on all of these developments. From them, I have learnt this. During my recent visit to Calcutta, I heard the grapevines. There are lot of rumours about these meetings. I can neither confirm nor deny these meetings. SH: But who are these people who may have been part of hatching this conspiracy? HTI: Most likely it would be the people who would benefit. I would leave it to you to conjecture about who are the people or the organisations or the agencies who would benefit from such an attack. SH: If we look into the geopolitical aspect on the note that we started that the Rohingya crisis has given Bangladesh a clear sign or an indication of who the real friends of Bangladesh are. Tell us what you have learnt about your friends and allies given that beyond the humanitarian assistance there has not been much pressure put into Myanmar to stop the violence. HTI: In the last two to three days there has been increasing pressure being put on Myanmar. The heat is on. That has prompted the Myanmar leader, Ms Aung Suu Kyi, to come out with some suggestions, some proposals even. If we say that this has given the opportunity for us to select our friend or our enemies, that would be too simplistic an approach. You can’t identify friends or enemies like that. In times of crisis, those who side by you solidly are of course your friends. Now, for example, Russia is our very good friend. In spite of that Russia has not played the role it could have played. They have their own national interests to safeguard. That’s one thing. We know that China has been a very old friend of Pakistan and China has for many years been in Myanmar. They have invested heavily in Myanmar. They have trained and armed the Myanmar army and all of those. China has a much longer border with Myanmar. Also, China has its own share of the problem. They have given shelter to a large part of the Shan rebels. They have their own interests. National interests [come] first and then friendship. For India, initially there was some misgivings here but India has come out very strongly for us. The one problem that India has is common to us again, the militancy. Regarding militancy, we have zero tolerance against militancy in Bangladesh. It has two aspects: one, we will not allow any militant to grow in Bangladesh, far from being able to operate, secondly, since the Holey Artisan incident we have not allowed any militant to concentrate or gather strength here in Bangladesh. Most recently, the Rapid Action Battalion and our intelligence agencies have been able to bust a huge group which has been responsible for money laundering and funding the militant activities in Bangladesh. Eleven of them were caught here and their mastermind was caught simultaneously in Spain. That was a real successful operation. We have success stories of operations against militancy in Bangladesh. Bangladesh will not allow any group to use the soil of Bangladesh against the integrity or sovereignty of any of our neighbours, that is most importantly India and then Myanmar and even Bhutan. These are the pillars of our policies. SH: Bangladesh government has signed a defence pact with India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India this year. We have learnt that this defence pact paves the way for a security cooperation between the two countries. What does this security cooperation between India and Bangladesh entail? HTI: The document was made public. There is no secret defence pact between India and Bangladesh. We will collaborate in all areas of security, which we have been doing. India also offered us facilities for training and line of credit for purchase of defence equipment from India. All of these are usual aspects of mutual pacts against any aggression from outside. In times of crisis, we will stand by each other. SH: How about some of the report suggesting that there would be joint military exercise on both sides if need be? HTI: Not that I am aware of. If you had alerted me I would have gotten a copy of the defence treaty and tell you what is there. SH: But some critiques of the treaty have been laying concerns on those areas. HTI: You might recall that the Bangladesh-India mutual friendship treaty, which was signed in 1972, came under constant attack from BNP, Jamaat and other critiques from even General Ershad’s party. On completion of the 25 years period, when the treaty was made public, you will see what is there. There is no secret agreement for any military assistance from India or from Bangladesh. All these are wild guesswork and an attempt to sabotage the relationship. There are many in Bangladesh or for that matter in India, who do not like closer cooperation between Bangladesh and India. SH: India and Russia are collaborating on the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as we get to hear from some of the reports. Please clarify to us what kind of assistance is Bangladesh seeking in the Nuclear power project that India would be assisting Russia as well. HTI: I am not aware of any Russian-Indian agreement. We have signed an agreement with Russia. That is a long-term credit and also for the establishment of the Rooppur power plant. It is done entirely by Russian companies under Russian supervision. All these are being done in accordance with International Atomic Energy Commission’s supervision and mandates. They have constant supervision here as well. SH: My last question to you as we conclude, the 2014 elections in Bangladesh was deemed controversial by some of the international community for the lack of participation of the majority opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The next election is coming ahead. What is the government’s effort in making the elections conducive and so that the opposition BNP also participates to make this election credible? HTI: Again there are two aspects here. The elections are conducted according to our constitution by the Election Commission. The Bangladesh Election Commission today is totally an independent entity and under the constitution, the election commission has been strengthened over the years. We have initiated the steps for the strengthening of election commission itself, making it independent financially and also for setting the timing and all that. Most importantly, as soon as the Election Commission declares the schedule for the elections, the government in power resigns and then the president forms an interim government. The interim government under the constitution has very limited powers. It will only perform routine works, nothing beyond, no new expenditure, no new projects, and it is mandated to provide all the support that is requisitioned by the election commission. The election commission is holding series of dialogues with different groups of people, with political parties, media, intelligentsia. All of these are being held. It is almost at the end. BNP will also go soon. Bangladesh Awami League will have its dialogue with the Election Commission on the 18th of October. All the parties have submitted various proposals for holding free, fair, transparent and credible elections. That’s what we want. That is what we have been saying. In 2014 BNP not only refrained from participating in the election, you know the havoc they created with the firebombing of buses, trucks and even steamers and launches and railways. If BNP had just boycotted the elections and remained peaceful, the international community would have seen it differently. Initially, I must admit, a part of the international community were hesitant to accept the results, but later on when they found that it was BNP which tried to foil the elections, gradually the international community accepted the results. There was no denial of the facts.

Exclusive: Pak role behind Rohingya insurgents can't be ruled out, says Bangladesh PM adviser

The Sikh volunteers from Khalsa Aid(India) arrived in Bangladesh last week to provide free langar(community kitchen service which&nbsp;provides food) to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-lives-and-limbs-shattered-by-mines-at-myanmar-frontier-20191" target="_blank">Rohingya refugees&nbsp;who have fled Myanmar after violence spread</a>. On Thursday, the volunteers&nbsp;finally got the go-ahead from the Bangladesh government to start Guru ka langar.&nbsp;

Khalsa Aid said that they had got the&nbsp;permission&nbsp;from the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/thousands-of-rohingyas-seek-safety-in-bangladesh-as-clashes-in-myanamr-intensify-19661" target="_blank">Bangladesh government to serve meals to the refugees</a>, media report said.&nbsp;

The team said its immediate priority was to provide the refugees with water and food. The daily langar has been set up for almost 35,000 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-lives-and-limbs-shattered-by-mines-at-myanmar-frontier-20191" target="_blank">Rohingya&nbsp;</a>refugees.&nbsp;

The langar sewa(service) began at a spot on Shahpuri Island where Rohingya refugees have been&nbsp;landing from&nbsp;Myanmar.&nbsp;

&ldquo;These people are arriving in a desperate state. I have never seen anyone so relieved for a drink of water. They have no money to pay for public transport to the refugee camps. Local rickshaws have increased their rates because of the heightened demand so we have organised transportation to take families safely to the refugee camps.&rdquo; Amarpreet Singh, Khalsa Aid Director&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/global-split-over-rohingya-crisis-as-china-backs-myanmar-crackdown-20140" target="_blank">Almost 3,50,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25.</a>

The organisation got permission from the Bangladesh government and started the sewa on Thursday

The Sikh volunteers from Khalsa Aid(India) arrived in Bangladesh last week to provide free langar(community kitchen service which provides food) to the Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar after violence spread. On Thursday, the volunteers finally got the go-ahead from the Bangladesh government to start Guru ka langar. Khalsa Aid said that they had got the permission from the Bangladesh government to serve meals to the refugees, media report said. The team said its immediate priority was to provide the refugees with water and food. The daily langar has been set up for almost 35,000 Rohingya refugees. The langar sewa(service) began at a spot on Shahpuri Island where Rohingya refugees have been landing from Myanmar. “These people are arriving in a desperate state. I have never seen anyone so relieved for a drink of water. They have no money to pay for public transport to the refugee camps. Local rickshaws have increased their rates because of the heightened demand so we have organised transportation to take families safely to the refugee camps.” Amarpreet Singh, Khalsa Aid Director said. Almost 3,50,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25.

Khalsa aid starts langar sewa for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Azizul Haque wanted to scream but could not muster the energy as he fought for his life, his body torn apart by the landmine he stepped on as he and his Rohingya Muslim family fled Myanmar.

Instead, the 15-year-old is so feeble he can barely beg his mother to bring him a juice, which in any case she cannot afford to buy.

Haque is in a hospital bed in the Bangladesh border town of Cox&#39;s Bazar, bandaged virtually from head to toe. He lost both legs and part of a hand in the explosion and suffered shrapnel wounds across his body.

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<h5>We heard a huge explosion as Azizul stepped on the mine,&#39; said his mother Rashida Begum, standing next to his bed, helplessly shedding tears. &#39;I saw his two legs blown away&#39;</h5>
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&quot;We heard a huge explosion as Azizul stepped on the mine,&quot; said his mother Rashida Begum, standing next to his bed, helplessly shedding tears. &quot;I saw his two legs blown away.&quot;

The family is among 379,000 Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh from violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state that started August 25, after Rohingya militants attacked police posts there.&nbsp;

They ran away from their home village of Debinna and were in sight of the frontier when the boy stepped on a mine near the barbed wire border fence.

&quot;Everyone was in a rush. Nobody could look out for others as the Burmese were chasing us from behind and burning the village,&quot; the mother of four told AFP.

While many Rohingya refugees have recounted tales of torture and rape by Myanmar troops and Buddhist militias as they escaped torched villages, landmines are the latest deadly threat to come to light.

Senior Bangladeshi officials believe anti-personnel mines, which were banned by a 1997 global treaty, have been planted by Myanmar security forces to prevent Rohingya from trying to return to their villages.

&quot;Since September 3, we have heard at least 12 landmine explosions. At least three people were killed and seven were injured in the blasts,&quot; Border Guard Bangladesh Commander Manzurul Hasan Khan told AFP.

&quot;All indications point to the Myanmar security forces deliberately targeting locations that Rohingya refugees use as crossing points,&quot; said Tirana Hassan of Amnesty International.

&quot;This a cruel and callous way of adding to the misery of people fleeing a systematic campaign of persecution,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&#39;State of collapse&#39; 
 
The UN Security Council on Wednesday broke its weeks-long silence on the crisis in Myanmar and called for an end to the violence, as UN chief Antonio Guterres said the military campaign amounted to the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

The 1.1-million strong Rohingya have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship even though many have long-lasting roots in the country.

Bangladesh does not want the group either, though it is providing the refugees with temporary shelter.

Border guards let Haque&#39;s family enter when they carried the stricken boy to the fence.

&quot;We rushed him to a nearby Doctors Without Borders clinic and they referred us to this hospital,&quot; said his mother Rashida.

Surgeons have conducted multiple operations on Haque, but do not hold out much hope for the youth. A nurse told AFP he feared Hoque could die before the end of the week.

The hospital has struggled to find supplies of his rare blood type for transfusions. &quot;Ninety per cent of his body is in a state of collapse,&quot; the nurse said.

Haque is just one of at least 20 Rohingya victims of bullet wounds, burns and bomb explosions being treated at the Cox&#39;s charity hospital.

Several others, including another of her Rashida&#39;s sons, also suffered injuries in the same incident, and are being treated nearby.

Sabekun Nahar, 50, suffered leg injuries after she stepped on a suspected landmine near where Hoque was blown up.

&quot;I wonder how I will ever walk again,&quot; she said, tears welling in her eyes.

Myanmarese security forces are believed to have planted land mines along the Bangladesh border, allegedly to prevent fleeing Rohingya from returning

Azizul Haque wanted to scream but could not muster the energy as he fought for his life, his body torn apart by the landmine he stepped on as he and his Rohingya Muslim family fled Myanmar. Instead, the 15-year-old is so feeble he can barely beg his mother to bring him a juice, which in any case she cannot afford to buy. Haque is in a hospital bed in the Bangladesh border town of Cox's Bazar, bandaged virtually from head to toe. He lost both legs and part of a hand in the explosion and suffered shrapnel wounds across his body. We heard a huge explosion as Azizul stepped on the mine,' said his mother Rashida Begum, standing next to his bed, helplessly shedding tears. 'I saw his two legs blown away' × "We heard a huge explosion as Azizul stepped on the mine," said his mother Rashida Begum, standing next to his bed, helplessly shedding tears. "I saw his two legs blown away." The family is among 379,000 Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh from violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state that started August 25, after Rohingya militants attacked police posts there. They ran away from their home village of Debinna and were in sight of the frontier when the boy stepped on a mine near the barbed wire border fence. "Everyone was in a rush. Nobody could look out for others as the Burmese were chasing us from behind and burning the village," the mother of four told AFP. While many Rohingya refugees have recounted tales of torture and rape by Myanmar troops and Buddhist militias as they escaped torched villages, landmines are the latest deadly threat to come to light. Senior Bangladeshi officials believe anti-personnel mines, which were banned by a 1997 global treaty, have been planted by Myanmar security forces to prevent Rohingya from trying to return to their villages. "Since September 3, we have heard at least 12 landmine explosions. At least three people were killed and seven were injured in the blasts," Border Guard Bangladesh Commander Manzurul Hasan Khan told AFP. "All indications point to the Myanmar security forces deliberately targeting locations that Rohingya refugees use as crossing points," said Tirana Hassan of Amnesty International. "This a cruel and callous way of adding to the misery of people fleeing a systematic campaign of persecution," she said. 'State of collapse' The UN Security Council on Wednesday broke its weeks-long silence on the crisis in Myanmar and called for an end to the violence, as UN chief Antonio Guterres said the military campaign amounted to the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. The 1.1-million strong Rohingya have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship even though many have long-lasting roots in the country. Bangladesh does not want the group either, though it is providing the refugees with temporary shelter. Border guards let Haque's family enter when they carried the stricken boy to the fence. "We rushed him to a nearby Doctors Without Borders clinic and they referred us to this hospital," said his mother Rashida. Surgeons have conducted multiple operations on Haque, but do not hold out much hope for the youth. A nurse told AFP he feared Hoque could die before the end of the week. The hospital has struggled to find supplies of his rare blood type for transfusions. "Ninety per cent of his body is in a state of collapse," the nurse said. Haque is just one of at least 20 Rohingya victims of bullet wounds, burns and bomb explosions being treated at the Cox's charity hospital. Several others, including another of her Rashida's sons, also suffered injuries in the same incident, and are being treated nearby. Sabekun Nahar, 50, suffered leg injuries after she stepped on a suspected landmine near where Hoque was blown up. "I wonder how I will ever walk again," she said, tears welling in her eyes.

VIDEO: Rohingya lives and limbs shattered by mines at Myanmar frontier

The Indian government today filed an affidavit in the apex court asserting that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-global-scrutiny-of-rohingya-crisis-intensifies-myanmars-suu-kyi-cancels-trip-to-un-general-assembly-20148" target="_blank">Rohingyas are a threat to national security</a>.

The government asked the Supreme Court to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-plans-to-move-rohingya-to-uninhabited-island-20113" target="_blank">not allow Rohingyas&nbsp;to stay in India as refugees</a> as they could be used by domestic and foreign terror groups against the country.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said in the affidavit that intelligence inputs have suggested the refugees are linked to the terror groups. The affidavit said,&quot;National interest warrants their deportation. No illegal immigrant has the right to stay in India.&quot;&nbsp;

Right now, almost 40,000 Rohingyas have settled in India in which only 16,000 have received documentation, as estimated by the United Nations.&nbsp;

Home minister Rajnath Singh has also called Rohingyas as a threat to national security earlier this week saying that they cannot rule out the possibility of security threat. He said,&quot;I have already cleared our stand with regard to illegal immigrants,&quot; a media report reported.&nbsp;

The apex court, next week, will hear the plea filed by Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir(Rohingya immigrants) who challenged the centre&#39;s decision to deport illegal Rohingya immigrants back to Myanmar.&nbsp;

The United Nations&#39; human rights official <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-human-rights-chief-deplores-indias-move-to-deport-rohingyas-20103" target="_blank">Zeid Ra&#39;al al-Hussein has </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-human-rights-chief-deplores-indias-move-to-deport-rohingyas-20103" target="_blank">critised</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-human-rights-chief-deplores-indias-move-to-deport-rohingyas-20103" target="_blank"> India earlier this week for wanting to deport Rohingya refugees.&nbsp;</a>

However, India has decided to send consignments of humanitarian assistance to Dhaka for the Rohingya refugees who have fled from Myanmar in these months. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/khalsa-aid-started-langar-sewa-for-rohingya-refugees-in-bngladesh-20215" target="_blank">India is providing food and other essential items needed for the refugees in Bangladesh.</a> The help and relief material are&nbsp;being provided under the program named, &quot;Operation Insaniyat&quot;.&nbsp;

The government has said to Supreme Court to not to allow illegal Rohingya immigrants to stay in India

The Indian government today filed an affidavit in the apex court asserting that Rohingyas are a threat to national security. The government asked the Supreme Court to not allow Rohingyas to stay in India as refugees as they could be used by domestic and foreign terror groups against the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said in the affidavit that intelligence inputs have suggested the refugees are linked to the terror groups. The affidavit said,"National interest warrants their deportation. No illegal immigrant has the right to stay in India." Right now, almost 40,000 Rohingyas have settled in India in which only 16,000 have received documentation, as estimated by the United Nations. Home minister Rajnath Singh has also called Rohingyas as a threat to national security earlier this week saying that they cannot rule out the possibility of security threat. He said,"I have already cleared our stand with regard to illegal immigrants," a media report reported. The apex court, next week, will hear the plea filed by Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir(Rohingya immigrants) who challenged the centre's decision to deport illegal Rohingya immigrants back to Myanmar. The United Nations' human rights official Zeid Ra'al al-Hussein has critised India earlier this week for wanting to deport Rohingya refugees. However, India has decided to send consignments of humanitarian assistance to Dhaka for the Rohingya refugees who have fled from Myanmar in these months. India is providing food and other essential items needed for the refugees in Bangladesh. The help and relief material are being provided under the program named, "Operation Insaniyat".

Centre files an affidavit, says Rohingya refugees are a threat to National Security

The bamboo and plastic that sheltered tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees were no match for Cyclone Mora when it struck the Bangladesh coast on Tuesday.

Around 70 per cent of the makeshift shacks in the Balukhali refugee camp were damaged by the storm, which whipped through the region with winds of over 115 kilometres&nbsp;per hour (72 mph). Many of the rickety structures collapsed into a tangle of poles and plastic sheeting.

The 12,000 people at the camp, on a coastal strip about an hour&#39;s drive from the port of Cox&#39;s Bazar, are among the 74,000 Rohingyas estimated by the United Nations to have fled Myanmar since a military crackdown last autumn.

The Rohingyas, a Muslim minority shunned by Myanmar&#39;s Buddhist majority, are effectively stateless.

&quot;We heard that a cyclone is coming. But there&#39;s no place we can go,&quot; 27-year-old Hamida Begum, who said she fled to Bangladesh three months ago after her husband disappeared, told Reuters on Wednesday.

&quot;I hate being a Rohingya. We are being tortured in Myanmar. Now in Bangladesh we have no rights - nothing. After this cyclone, we don&#39;t have a roof. We are living under the sky. We have no future.&quot;

Throughout the camp, people tried to rebuild or repair their makeshift homes. One gaunt, elderly man, lay asleep on a mat in what had once been a shelter; its plastic sides torn open and debris strewn around him.

At least seven people were killed and 50 injured by Cyclone Mora, according to Mohammad Ali Hussain, chief administrator of Cox&#39;s Bazar district.

The Bangladeshi government has estimated that in all, there are about 350,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh, the latest influx coming after the Myanmar army launched an offensive in response to insurgent attacks.

Authorities in Cox&#39;s Bazar and neighbouring Chittagong district evacuated 350,000 people from low-lying areas before the storm roared in from the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday.

But most Rohingyas were still in their flimsy shelters when the cyclone struck, with priority given to evacuating only the most vulnerable, including heavily pregnant women.

&nbsp;

MOST HOMES DAMAGED

The UN Refugee Agency said winds gusting at up to 117 kilometres per hour&nbsp;damaged thousands of homes, toppled trees and ripped off roofing.

Post-cyclone assessments found that most of the refugees&#39; homes were damaged to varying degrees, with around one in five completely destroyed.

&quot;There&#39;s no roof. We are just drinking water. The little food we had in our home was all damaged after the cyclone,&quot; said Setara Begum, 30, a mother of two who said she crossed into Bangladesh two months ago after her husband disappeared. She has two children, a 2-year-old toddler and a 5-month-old baby.

&quot;My children are crying for food. But I am helpless. I have no money. There&#39;s no hope. I don&#39;t know how I will raise my children.&quot;

With power supplies knocked out and fresh food in short supply, aid agencies handed out rations to refugees who thronged distribution points.

&quot;We have no roof, no food. We&#39;re almost starving. But no one came here to help us. Just today I got some biscuits,&quot; said Minara Begum, 20, who said she fled Myanmar after military shot her father-in-law in October. She clutched a packet of energy biscuits distributed by the World Food Programme.

The refugees have received assistance from the International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR, but complain they have been left to fend for themselves by the authorities in Bangladesh.

Mohammad Jebor Mulluk, project co-coordinator of a local NGO called Mukti Cox&#39;s Bazar, said the refugees, already vulnerable before the cyclone, were now even more exposed.

&quot;They need more support now,&quot; he told Reuters.

(Reuters)

Around 70% of the makeshift shacks in the Balukhali refugee camp were damaged by the storm

The bamboo and plastic that sheltered tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees were no match for Cyclone Mora when it struck the Bangladesh coast on Tuesday. Around 70 per cent of the makeshift shacks in the Balukhali refugee camp were damaged by the storm, which whipped through the region with winds of over 115 kilometres per hour (72 mph). Many of the rickety structures collapsed into a tangle of poles and plastic sheeting. The 12,000 people at the camp, on a coastal strip about an hour's drive from the port of Cox's Bazar, are among the 74,000 Rohingyas estimated by the United Nations to have fled Myanmar since a military crackdown last autumn. The Rohingyas, a Muslim minority shunned by Myanmar's Buddhist majority, are effectively stateless. "We heard that a cyclone is coming. But there's no place we can go," 27-year-old Hamida Begum, who said she fled to Bangladesh three months ago after her husband disappeared, told Reuters on Wednesday. "I hate being a Rohingya. We are being tortured in Myanmar. Now in Bangladesh we have no rights - nothing. After this cyclone, we don't have a roof. We are living under the sky. We have no future." Throughout the camp, people tried to rebuild or repair their makeshift homes. One gaunt, elderly man, lay asleep on a mat in what had once been a shelter; its plastic sides torn open and debris strewn around him. At least seven people were killed and 50 injured by Cyclone Mora, according to Mohammad Ali Hussain, chief administrator of Cox's Bazar district. The Bangladeshi government has estimated that in all, there are about 350,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh, the latest influx coming after the Myanmar army launched an offensive in response to insurgent attacks. Authorities in Cox's Bazar and neighbouring Chittagong district evacuated 350,000 people from low-lying areas before the storm roared in from the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday. But most Rohingyas were still in their flimsy shelters when the cyclone struck, with priority given to evacuating only the most vulnerable, including heavily pregnant women. MOST HOMES DAMAGED The UN Refugee Agency said winds gusting at up to 117 kilometres per hour damaged thousands of homes, toppled trees and ripped off roofing. Post-cyclone assessments found that most of the refugees' homes were damaged to varying degrees, with around one in five completely destroyed. "There's no roof. We are just drinking water. The little food we had in our home was all damaged after the cyclone," said Setara Begum, 30, a mother of two who said she crossed into Bangladesh two months ago after her husband disappeared. She has two children, a 2-year-old toddler and a 5-month-old baby. "My children are crying for food. But I am helpless. I have no money. There's no hope. I don't know how I will raise my children." With power supplies knocked out and fresh food in short supply, aid agencies handed out rations to refugees who thronged distribution points. "We have no roof, no food. We're almost starving. But no one came here to help us. Just today I got some biscuits," said Minara Begum, 20, who said she fled Myanmar after military shot her father-in-law in October. She clutched a packet of energy biscuits distributed by the World Food Programme. The refugees have received assistance from the International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR, but complain they have been left to fend for themselves by the authorities in Bangladesh. Mohammad Jebor Mulluk, project co-coordinator of a local NGO called Mukti Cox's Bazar, said the refugees, already vulnerable before the cyclone, were now even more exposed. "They need more support now," he told Reuters. (Reuters)

For Rohingya refugees, makeshift homes no match for Cyclone Mora

Bangladesh authorities are to push ahead with a controversial plan to relocate tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees who arrived from Myanmar to a remote island, according to a government website.

The government has set up a committee comprising state officials in the coastal districts, ordering authorities to help identify and relocate undocumented Myanmar nationals to Thengar Char in the Bay of Bengal.

&quot;The committee will assist transferring both registered and unregistered refugees from Myanmar to Thengar Char near Hatiya island in Noakhali district,&quot; according to an order issued by the Cabinet Division last week and posted on the website.

Hatiya Island is situated on the estuary of the River Meghna and is nine hours&#39; journey from the camps where the Rohingya have taken shelter.&nbsp;

Some 232,000 Rohingya Muslims, both registered and unregistered, were already living in Bangladesh before over 65,000 stateless Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar&#39;s western state of Rakhine began entering the country last October.

Most of those who fled to Bangladesh live in squalid conditions in refugee camps in Cox&#39;s Bazar district, which borders Rakhine state and is home to the country&#39;s biggest tourist resort.&nbsp;

Bangladesh has also asked its officials in the border districts to&nbsp;identify the Myanmar nationals who &quot;illegally infiltrated&quot; the country.

&quot;It has to be assured by taking preventive measures that they (refugees) cannot spread out and mix with the locals,&quot; read the order which was dated January 26.

&quot;The identified refugees should be arrested or pushed back to the camps if they try to go out beyond the assigned boundary.&quot;

The Rohingya refugees mostly live in squalid conditions in Cox&#39;s Bazar. Bangladesh first mooted the idea of relocating them in 2015 despite allegations that the island was still not ready for human habitation.

The idea sparked an outcry from Rohingya community leaders while a UN agency said a forced relocation would be &quot;very complex and controversial&quot;.

(AFP)

The government has set up a committee,ordering authorities to help identify and relocate undocumented Myanmar nationals to Thengar Char

Bangladesh authorities are to push ahead with a controversial plan to relocate tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees who arrived from Myanmar to a remote island, according to a government website. The government has set up a committee comprising state officials in the coastal districts, ordering authorities to help identify and relocate undocumented Myanmar nationals to Thengar Char in the Bay of Bengal. "The committee will assist transferring both registered and unregistered refugees from Myanmar to Thengar Char near Hatiya island in Noakhali district," according to an order issued by the Cabinet Division last week and posted on the website. Hatiya Island is situated on the estuary of the River Meghna and is nine hours' journey from the camps where the Rohingya have taken shelter. Some 232,000 Rohingya Muslims, both registered and unregistered, were already living in Bangladesh before over 65,000 stateless Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine began entering the country last October. Most of those who fled to Bangladesh live in squalid conditions in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar district, which borders Rakhine state and is home to the country's biggest tourist resort. Bangladesh has also asked its officials in the border districts to identify the Myanmar nationals who "illegally infiltrated" the country. "It has to be assured by taking preventive measures that they (refugees) cannot spread out and mix with the locals," read the order which was dated January 26. "The identified refugees should be arrested or pushed back to the camps if they try to go out beyond the assigned boundary." The Rohingya refugees mostly live in squalid conditions in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh first mooted the idea of relocating them in 2015 despite allegations that the island was still not ready for human habitation. The idea sparked an outcry from Rohingya community leaders while a UN agency said a forced relocation would be "very complex and controversial". (AFP)

Bangladesh authorities push on with Rohingya island plan

The United Nations has urged Myanmar&#39;s leader Aung San Suu Kyi to visit the country&#39;s northern state of Rakhine and reassure the civilian population of their protection amid accusations against the army of a brutal military crackdown on Rohingya minority.

UN special adviser on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar appealed to the Nobel prize winner to intercede, in a statement released on Thursday.

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&quot;The adoption of a generally defensive rather than proactive approach to providing security to the local population, have caused frustration locally and disappointment internationally,&quot; he said, news agency AFP reported.

&quot;I also appeal to Daw Suu to visit Maungdaw and Buthidaung and reassure the civilian population there that they will be protected,&quot; he added, referring to the locked down area in Rakhine.&nbsp;

Malaysia has accused the military of &quot;genocide&quot;. The army has reportedly pushed more than 20,000 Rohingya over the border to Bangladesh and is accused of mass rape, murder and arson. Myanmar officials have denied the charges.

Suu Kyi, who has faced growing criticism for not stopping the military&#39;s campaign, said that the situation was &quot;under control&quot;. She further asked the international community to stop aggravating the &quot;fires of resentment&quot;.

&quot;What&#39;s the use of Aung San Suu Kyi having a Nobel prize?&quot; Malaysia&#39;s Prime Minister Najib Razak asked some 5,000 protesters in Kuala Lumpur. &quot;The world cannot sit and watch genocide taking place.&quot;

The bloodshed in the country poses the biggest challenge to Suu Kyi&#39;s party. Protesters have expressed outrage against the latest crackdown on Rohingyas who have suffered years of abuse and discrimination.

Activists say Buddhist-majority Myanmar&#39;s stateless Muslim Rohingya minority are among the most persecuted in the world.&nbsp;

More than 120,000 have been trapped in squalid displacement camps since the last major outbreak of violence erupted in Rakhine in 2012, AFP said.

(With inputs from AFP)

The army is accused of carrying out a brutal crackdown on Rakhine's Muslim Rohingya minority

The United Nations has urged Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi to visit the country's northern state of Rakhine and reassure the civilian population of their protection amid accusations against the army of a brutal military crackdown on Rohingya minority. UN special adviser on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar appealed to the Nobel prize winner to intercede, in a statement released on Thursday. Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner, has described the situation as 'under control' and asked the international community to stop stoking the 'fires of resentment' × "The adoption of a generally defensive rather than proactive approach to providing security to the local population, have caused frustration locally and disappointment internationally," he said, news agency AFP reported. "I also appeal to Daw Suu to visit Maungdaw and Buthidaung and reassure the civilian population there that they will be protected," he added, referring to the locked down area in Rakhine. Malaysia has accused the military of "genocide". The army has reportedly pushed more than 20,000 Rohingya over the border to Bangladesh and is accused of mass rape, murder and arson. Myanmar officials have denied the charges. Suu Kyi, who has faced growing criticism for not stopping the military's campaign, said that the situation was "under control". She further asked the international community to stop aggravating the "fires of resentment". "What's the use of Aung San Suu Kyi having a Nobel prize?" Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak asked some 5,000 protesters in Kuala Lumpur. "The world cannot sit and watch genocide taking place." The bloodshed in the country poses the biggest challenge to Suu Kyi's party. Protesters have expressed outrage against the latest crackdown on Rohingyas who have suffered years of abuse and discrimination. Activists say Buddhist-majority Myanmar's stateless Muslim Rohingya minority are among the most persecuted in the world. More than 120,000 have been trapped in squalid displacement camps since the last major outbreak of violence erupted in Rakhine in 2012, AFP said. (With inputs from AFP)

UN calls on Myanmar's Suu Kyi to visit crisis-hit Rakhine

Multiple boats packed with Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar were turned back by Bangladesh border guards on Monday, despite appeals by the country&#39;s opposition to provide shelter to the persecuted Muslim minority.

Thousands of desperate Rohingya from Myanmar&#39;s western Rakhine state have flooded over the border into Bangladesh in the last week, bringing with them horrifying claims of gang rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar&#39;s security forces.

Eight boats attempting to cross the Naf River separating Rakhine from southern Bangladesh were pushed back on Monday after six were refused entry on Sunday, head of the board guards in the Bangladeshi frontier town of Teknaf, Col Abuzar Al Zahid, told AFP.

&quot;There were 12 to 13 Rohingya in each of the boats,&quot; Col Zahid said.

Dhaka says thousands more are massed on the border, but has refused urgent international appeals to let them in, instead, calling on Myanmar to do more to stop people fleeing.

In the past two weeks, Bangladeshi border guards have prevented more than 1,000 Rohingya, including many women and children, from entering the country by boat, officials told AFP.

Bangladesh&#39;s main opposition leader Khaleda Zia late Sunday joined a growing chorus of political parties and hardline Islamist groups in the Muslim-majority country calling for the Rohingya to be given shelter.

At least 30,000 have been internally displaced in Rakhine and many have tried to reach Bangladesh over the last month despite heightened border patrols&nbsp;and sought refuge&nbsp;amongst the Rohingya refugee population that already live on the Bangladesh side.

Samira Akhter told AFP by phone that she reached an unofficial refugee camp in Bangladesh on Monday, after fleeing her village in Rakhine state with her three children and 49 others.

&quot;The military killed my husband and torched our home. I fled to a hill along with my three children and neighbours. We hid there for a week,&quot; said Mrs Akhter, 27.

Dudu Mia, a Rohingya leader in the camp, said at least 1,338 had arrived in the community since mid-October.

Violence in Rakhine -- home to the stateless ethnic group loathed by many of Myanmar&#39;s Buddhist majority -- has surged in the last month after security forces poured into the area following a series of attacks on police posts blamed on local militants.

A UN official said last week Myanmar is engaged in &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of Rohingya Muslims, as reports emerged of troops shooting at villagers as they tried to flee.

But Myanmar&#39;s new civilian government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected the allegations.

(AFP)

This despite appeals by the country's opposition to provide shelter to the persecuted Muslim minority

Multiple boats packed with Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar were turned back by Bangladesh border guards on Monday, despite appeals by the country's opposition to provide shelter to the persecuted Muslim minority. Thousands of desperate Rohingya from Myanmar's western Rakhine state have flooded over the border into Bangladesh in the last week, bringing with them horrifying claims of gang rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar's security forces. Eight boats attempting to cross the Naf River separating Rakhine from southern Bangladesh were pushed back on Monday after six were refused entry on Sunday, head of the board guards in the Bangladeshi frontier town of Teknaf, Col Abuzar Al Zahid, told AFP. "There were 12 to 13 Rohingya in each of the boats," Col Zahid said. Dhaka says thousands more are massed on the border, but has refused urgent international appeals to let them in, instead, calling on Myanmar to do more to stop people fleeing. In the past two weeks, Bangladeshi border guards have prevented more than 1,000 Rohingya, including many women and children, from entering the country by boat, officials told AFP. Bangladesh's main opposition leader Khaleda Zia late Sunday joined a growing chorus of political parties and hardline Islamist groups in the Muslim-majority country calling for the Rohingya to be given shelter. At least 30,000 have been internally displaced in Rakhine and many have tried to reach Bangladesh over the last month despite heightened border patrols and sought refuge amongst the Rohingya refugee population that already live on the Bangladesh side. Samira Akhter told AFP by phone that she reached an unofficial refugee camp in Bangladesh on Monday, after fleeing her village in Rakhine state with her three children and 49 others. "The military killed my husband and torched our home. I fled to a hill along with my three children and neighbours. We hid there for a week," said Mrs Akhter, 27. Dudu Mia, a Rohingya leader in the camp, said at least 1,338 had arrived in the community since mid-October. Violence in Rakhine -- home to the stateless ethnic group loathed by many of Myanmar's Buddhist majority -- has surged in the last month after security forces poured into the area following a series of attacks on police posts blamed on local militants. A UN official said last week Myanmar is engaged in "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims, as reports emerged of troops shooting at villagers as they tried to flee. But Myanmar's new civilian government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected the allegations. (AFP)

Rohingyas fleeing violence in Myanmar turned back by Bangladesh