CHATTOGRAM, Jan 25, 2020 (BSS)-Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud termed
the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Rohingya issue
as historic, saying that Myanmar must abide by the ruling of the UN top
court.
“I think that the countries which were confused about Myanmar’s atrocities
on Rohingyas and its crimes against humanity, they (countries) will put
pressure on Myanmar from now after the ICJ ruling,” he said.
The minister came up with the observation while speaking at a programme
here today. He distributed cheques among the distressed cancer patients and
different equipment among ethnic groups under the Development Assistance for
Special Area of the Prime Minister’s Office at Upazila Parishad auditorium in
Rangunia of the district.
Dr Hasan Mahmud, also Awami League joint general secretary, said all the
judges handed down the ruling unanimously and as per the ruling, Myanmar will
have to submit a ‘Compliance Report’ on its implementation of the orders in
four months, and then every six months afterwards.
He hoped that the countries, which did not put pressure on Myanmar for
taking back the Rohingyas from Bangladesh, will now put pressure on it to do
so by awarding them full citizenship. The Myanmar authorities must take
necessary steps after the ICJ’s orders, he added.
The minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the mother of humanity,
opened the border for Rohingyas as they were persecuted in their own country-
Myanmar. About 11 lakh Rohingya people took shelter in Bangladesh due to the
atrocity by Myanmar authorities, he added.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said Gambia lodged a case on behalf of the Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) with the UN top court-ICJ and the court gave a
historic ruling in favour of humanity.
“The ICJ’s ruling is a huge development in regard to protecting the rights
of Rohingyas. It is a good instruction in favour of humanity,” said Dr Hasan.
He said the ICJ at the Hague granted a series of emergency steps requested
by the mainly Muslim African state of The Gambia.
The minister said the court has ordered that Myanmar will never break the
‘Genocide Convention’, Myanmar army or any other armed groups will not engage
in massacres or similar acts in any way, the evidence of all the genocide and
destruction that took place earlier should be preserved and after the next
four months, a ‘Compliance Report’ should be submitted for the execution of
the court order.
Hasan hoped that Myanmar will stop such kind of atrocities and take back
around 11 lakh forcefully displaced Rohingyas through giving full citizenship
right.
Later, the minister distributed scholarships among the students of ethnic
groups.
Upazila Parishad Chairman Khalilur Rahman, Municipality Mayor Shahjahan
Sikder, Upazila Vice Chairman Shafiqul Islam and AL upazila unit General
Secretary Engineer Shamsul Alam Talukder, among others, addressed the
function with Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Masudur Rahman in the chair.