The rate of seeking political asylum by Bangladeshis in overseas doubled in last five years due to repressive political environment and violation of basic rights in the country, says Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).

The European Union needs to accept responsibility for the lack of a common asylum policy, which has transformed this year's growing influx of refugees from a manageable problem into yet another political crisis.

Images of Syrian refugees stuck at borders and at train stations have spurred on an outcry for more to be done to help those fleeing the war.