Bangladesh bans two international NGOs over Rohingya repatriation issue

Toughening its stance further, Bangladesh on Wednesday banned two more international NGOs for allegedly instigating Rohingya refugees to oppose repatriation to Myanmar.

The NGO Affairs bureau of Bangladesh on Wednesday issued a circular banning the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Al Markazul Islami for their role in organising a rally of Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar area on 25 August on the second anniversary of fleeing from Myanmar.

Both the NGOs have been asked to shut their operations across Bangladesh. Banks have been asked to halt all transactions relating to these two NGOs.

Earlier, on Saturday, government had barred 41 NGOs from undertaking any activity in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps for their alleged role in encouraging Rohingyas not to accept repatriation to Myanmar.

After the Rohingya rally on August 25 government on September 1, transferred the Refugee Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam along with 7 camps-in-charge at Cox’s Bazar.