Hasina warns of possible terrorist threat from Mynmarese refugees
July 29th, 2012 - 12:48 am ICT by IANS
London, July 28 (IANS) Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned of possible terrorist connections among thousands of Muslim refugees trying to enter her country from neighbouring Myanmar.
In an interview with the Sunday Express, Hasina said that her government had passed on concerns about a number of unidentified “incidents” to the authorities in Myanmar where there have been clashes between Buddhists and Muslims.
The recent fighting, which has seen dozens killed, has been taking place in the western Myanmarese state of Rakhine. Thousands of Rohingyas, described by the UN as a persecuted Islamic minority group in Myanmar, have tried to flee to Bangaldesh.
Hasina’s Awami League government has been turning them away at the border, angering campaign groups Human Rights Watch and Amnesty.
She, however, told the Sunday Express that the international community should investigate why so many were fleeing.
“As for refugees, we have a large number trying to get into our country, which is already over-populated. How many can we take it? We don’t want any refugees coming to Bangladesh.
“The international community should try and find out why these refugees want to come,” she said.
Asked if she was concerned that Jamaat-e-Islami could be encouraging some refugees, she said: “We have some intelligence reports about it.
“We are trying to find out the reality.”
The Bangladeshi prime minister, who attended late Friday night’s Olympic opening ceremony, also praised Britain and Scotland Yard for helping in the fight against terrorism.
Hasina met British Foreign Secretary William Hague earlier Saturday to discuss the situation.
- 25 Myanmarese Muslims seek refuge in Hyderabad - Jul 31, 2012
- UN urges Bangladesh to allow aid to Myanmar refugees - Aug 08, 2012
- At least 78 killed in western Myanmar clashes - UN - Jul 29, 2012
- Pakistan concerned over Muslim deaths in Myanmar - Aug 07, 2012
- Hundreds of Myanmar nationals seek refugee status (With Images) - Apr 21, 2012
- Myanmar president to visit Bangladesh - Jun 25, 2012
- Ten Myanmarese nationals held in Tripura - Mar 04, 2011
- Pakistani Taliban threatens Myanmar over Muslim attacks - Jul 26, 2012
- Myanmar president postpones Bangladesh visit - Jul 02, 2012
- Myanmarese nationals get jail for entering India illegally - Mar 24, 2012
- UAE calls for end of Myanmar violence - Aug 12, 2012
- 80,000 displaced in Myanmar unrest - Jul 28, 2012
- Myanmar's persecuted Rohingyas starve in Bangladesh - Mar 30, 2010
- Protests, prayers against attack on Muslims in Myanmar - Aug 03, 2012
- UN chief hails Myanmar panel to probe violence - Aug 18, 2012
Tags: amnesty, awami league, buddhists, campaign groups, clashes, friday night, human rights watch, jamaat e islami, minister sheikh hasina, minority group, muslim refugees, muslims, myanmar, olympic opening ceremony, rohingyas, scotland yard, secretary william, sunday express, terrorist threat, william hague