On Thursday (September 22) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina became emotional when she saw video footage of the plight of the Rohingyas while addressing a high-level side event on the Rohingya issue in New York.
“She (PM) could not control her tears while talking about the hardships these displaced people (Rohingyas) have to go through every day,” the Awami League tweeted.
During the event, the brutality of the Myanmar army on the oppressed Rohingya, indiscriminate killing, looting and rape was described. In addition a video was shown about the persecuted Rohingyas who fled in fear of their lives. The Prime Minister could not hide herself after seeing that video image. She overwhelmed with emotion and broke down at one point.
In the side event, the Prime Minister emphasized that the United Nations and international partners need to take effective steps and projects to create a conducive environment for the sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas.
The PM said that the current crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution also lies there. Systematic exclusion and indiscriminate persecution of the Rohingya by successive governments in Myanmar since the 1960s has led to their continued fleeing into Bangladesh.
“Today, the total number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN) taking refuge in Bangladesh is around 1.2 million,” she said.
Expressing her deep concern, the Prime Minister further said, “The prolonged stay of Rohingyas in Bangladesh has created a great challenge for our development aspirations.”
