University Correspondent:

The Rakhine community of Bangladesh has organized a human chain programme in Dhaka to protest against the crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar army against the ethnic Rakhine in Arakan of Myanmar.

The human chain was held in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh in the city on Sunday morning where people of Rakhine community living in different districts of Bangladesh took part.

Kannyng, convenor of Bangladesh Rakhine Community of Bangladesh, told the rally that more than 300 civilians had been killed in Myanmar’s military crackdown in Arakan; more than six hundred people were injured and two and a half lakh people are living as refugees due to burning of houses.

He said Myanmar’s military had been cleverly and systematically infiltrating various villages, torturing, raping, looting and firing on homes and despite various international sanctions, killings against humanity continue unabated.

Kannyng added that the Myanmar government has not allowed international aid agencies to enter Rakhine, making it impossible for food and medical supplies to reach there.

Highlighting the current scenario of Rakhine, the speakers at the human chain said that internet services have been shut down in Rakhine State for more than a year. The military government is hiding the issue of genocide by disconnecting all kinds of social media and it has been disobeying the World Health Organization’s (WHO) directive to keep internet services running during the coronavirus pandemic.

The speakers further alleged that Myanmar is carrying out various provocative activities including deployment of additional troops defying international laws near the Bangladesh border and it does not comply with any international restrictions; doesn’t care about anyone.

The organisers said that they would like to request the European Commission, Russia, China and the Asian international community from this human chain saying that if the necessary steps are not taken now against such atrocities, the people of Rakhine State will soon be extinct.

Bangladesh Rakhine Students Association, Rakhine Cultural Group (Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh), National Environment and Human Rights Society, Rakhine Youth United Association Bangladesh, Rakhine Women’s Organization, Rakhine Community of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Students Council, Cox’s Bazar Art Club, Buddhist Welfare Association (Dhaka) branch took part in the human chain event. (Source: Samakal)