An open Letter to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh by Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU)

December 2, 2011 

H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wajed 

The Prime Minister People’s Republic of Bangladesh 

Old Sangsad Bhaban

Tejgaon, Dhaka 1215 

Your Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed,

On Behalf of Arakan Rohingya Union and the Burmese Rohingya Association of North

America, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Bangladesh for

addressing the Rohingya refugee issue with the government of Myanmar on many occasions in the past. We warmly welcome your visit to Myanmar which potentially could yield significant results in bilateral relations, including the Rohingya refugee issues and a number of human right problems that the Rohingya ethnic minority is facing in Myanmar.

There has not been any progress in Rohingya human rights and political issues in Myanmar although many promises were made by the Myanmar government before the 2010 election. In fact, situations have deteriorated in the Rohingya areas in Arakan after the new government in Myanmar assumed power. Currently, serious human rights violations against

the Rohingya by the government of Myanmar have reached a new level.

We, the Rohingya people, strongly believe that the future of Rohingya, as citizens of 

Myanmar, greatly depends on support from the people and the government of Bangladesh. We also believe that in order for the Rohingya people to regain their rights in Myanmar, the

government of Bangladesh could be instrumental by using its good relations with Myanmar as leverage.

We call upon your Excellency to exercise your good office to address the following Rohingya issues during your upcoming visit to Myanmar and thereafter:

1. Recognition of Rohingya by Myanmar government as an indigenous ethnic minority of

Myanmar and reinstate their citizenship.

2. Repeal the 1982 Citizenship Law of Myanmar adopted by the former military regime.

3. Cease the ethnic cleansing and all the human rights violations against Rohingya by the

government of Myanmar, and reinstate their rights to travel freely, seek education, maintain

their properties, get married without fear, renovate and rebuild their places of worship,

and several other rights.

4. Repatriation of all the Rohingya refugees with guarantee by the government of Myanmar

for their full protection, resettlement in their respective villages, return their properties

that were confiscated.

We are indebted to the people and the Government of Bangladesh for their historic support

and sympathy that Rohingya people have received. May Allah bless the Peoples’ Republic of

Bangladesh.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely, 

Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin 

Director General 

Arakan Rohingya Union 

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