Take back the Rohingya

The head of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) renewed the organisation's calls to Myanmar government to take back Rohingya refugees who took shelters in Bangladesh. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, the OIC chief, reiterated the call while visiting two refugee shelters in Cox's Bazar district on Friday. He promised that pressure would be put on Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back and grant them citizenship. His comments are welcome and should be heeded.

International bodies and commission such as UN human rights and refugee agencies, Kofi Anan led Rakhine Commission, UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee and numerous other human rights groups have previously reached the same conclusion that Rohingyas should be taken back. Unfortunately, such international calls on Myanmar authorities fell on deaf ears.

However, Othaimeen's comments are particularly important, given that his organisation reflects a unified voice of 57 Muslim states. He also pragmatically called on the South East Asian nations to join hands in tackling the problem, because these countries collectively wield significant leverage over Myanmar.

The Nobel peace prize winner Aung Sun Suu Kyi led government's refusal to properly acknowledge and address the problem is inhumane and reprehensible. The country cannot deprive its ethnic minority of basic human rights. As the OIC chief adds his voice to a growing chorus of global bodies and figures urging Myanmar to take a sensible stand on the issue, the government of Myanmar cannot abdicate its responsibilities any longer.