Radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has threatened to lay siege to the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka on September 18, protesting the ongoing oppression of the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Hefazat’s Organising Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi made the announcement in a press release on Sunday.
The group had earlier announced in a press conference at Chittagong Press Club on Saturday that it would hold the demonstration on September 19.
Hefazat Secretary General Junayed Babunagari that day read out a statement warning that they would lay siege to the Myanmar embassy if the country’s government does not immediately halt the genocide of the Rohingya.
He said that Hefazat would stage demonstrations and bring out protests across the country on September 16 and submit memorandums to the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on September 21.
Addressing the press conference, Babunagari said: “Dubbing the Rohingya as terrorists is a violation of human rights. They are downtrodden and persecuted.”
“The Rohingya gave us shelter during our 1971 Liberation War. Therefore, we should provide them with shelter,” he added.
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Denouncing the persecution of the Rohingya, Babunagari sought the intervention of international organisations to end the ongoing atrocities.
“The Bangladesh government should mount diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to immediately put an end to the atrocities against the Rohingya.
“If the mass killings of the Rohingya are not stopped immediately, Hefazat will hold a long march, led by its chief Shah Ahmed Shafi, towards Rakhine state,” warned the Hefazat leader.
The Islamist group has also urged anyone capable of providing support and aid to the Rohingya refugees to do so.
Senior Hefazat leaders Tajul Islam, Foyzullah, Likman Hakim, Mainuddin Ruhi, Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Junayed Al Habib and Anas Madani attended the Saturday press conference.
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