ADVERTISEMENT

Islamists want 'war' over Rohingya crisis

Police said at least 15,000 followers of five Islamist groups, including the hardline Hefazat-e-Islam, joined a demonstration in front of the country's largest mosque in central Dhaka.

They were protesting against the clampdown by Myanmar's security forces in Rakhine state and decried international efforts to protect the Muslim minority group, police told AFP.

Nur Hossain Kasemi, a madrassa teacher who heads Hefazat's Dhaka unit, spoke at the rally, which followed a procession in front of the mosque.

"The Burmese government is carrying out a genocide. The houses in Rakhine are being torched. We urge the Bangladeshi people to stand by Rohingya people," Kasemi told the gathering.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We urge the Bangladesh government to resolve the problem through war. It is the right time," he said, according to leading online Bengali news portal Bangla Tribune.

"If no diplomatic solution is found, we have asked the government to use military power in an effort to ensure Rohingya can live in Arakan (Bengali for Rakhine)," Hefazat spokesman Fazlul Karim Kasemi later told AFP.

Similar protests by Islamists have been held in other cities across the Muslim majority country.

The UN says 391,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh in the last two and half weeks after fleeing Myanmar.

Rohingya Muslims who fled said their villages have been burned to the ground and relatives killed by the army.

ADVERTISEMENT

Images purportedly showing atrocities against the Rohingya have flooded Bangladeshi social media, triggering an outpouring of sympathy.

The Bangladesh government has twice summoned the Myanmar envoy to express concern over the escalation of violence since August 25.

It says the arrivals represent an "unbearable additional burden" on the poor country, already home to 300,000 Rohingya before the latest influx.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Government is ashamed of its citizens begging in other African countries

Government is ashamed of its citizens begging in other African countries

Linda Ikeji to pay NBM of Africa ₦30 million for character defamation

Linda Ikeji to pay NBM of Africa ₦30 million for character defamation

Gov Obaseki declares ₦70,000 minimum wage for Edo workers

Gov Obaseki declares ₦70,000 minimum wage for Edo workers

2 workers die after bridge under construction collapse in Ebonyi

2 workers die after bridge under construction collapse in Ebonyi

FCT experiences power outage, AEDC blames technical faults on feeders

FCT experiences power outage, AEDC blames technical faults on feeders

Ogun FRSC set to arrest motorists with petrol-filled jerry cans in vehicles

Ogun FRSC set to arrest motorists with petrol-filled jerry cans in vehicles

Fruit waste from Ketu market can generate power for homes, markets, industries

Fruit waste from Ketu market can generate power for homes, markets, industries

Tinubu's 2nd term bid at risk over 'betrayal' of El-Rufai, Yahaya Bello - Sowunmi

Tinubu's 2nd term bid at risk over 'betrayal' of El-Rufai, Yahaya Bello - Sowunmi

EFCC to freeze 1k bank accounts for forex dealings, investigate for 90 days

EFCC to freeze 1k bank accounts for forex dealings, investigate for 90 days

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT