Humanity should be above all

Medieval poet of Bengal Chandidas said, "Sobar upore manush sotto tahar upore nai" (Humanity is above all). There is no value of the words now?

Thousands of people are embracing deaths in the coast of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia but the world humanity remains silent. Over eight thousand people are floating in sea without water-foods and treatment. Most of these abandoned people are Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants.  

If the boats carrying eight thousand people would be any island full of natural resources, then the so called conscious world might respond soon showing the cause of human right violation and send warship.   

But, the floating migrants in sea did not get any sympathy of the world leaders. As a result, thousands of people had to pass their days in small boats for months in the border of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Even, news published that some mass graves of illegal migrants has been found in the forests of Thailand.

People laden boats are still floating in various points of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Malacca Strait and the Andaman Sea. International media reported that all countries are pushing back influx of boats carrying Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants, though the boats are staying near the coasts. What type of humanity is this!

Some countries are ending their responsibility by sending only statement. But, in the name of peace or humanity, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Yemen were attacked, military attack was conducted directly in the name of removal of militancy. On the other hand, US based international organization remained silent without any effective steps.

First of all, food and shelter are needed for the victims in boats. Then, steps should be taken to return these people to their own land. But, the world humanity failed to show their responsibility.

The Rohingya are leaving Myanmar due to racial discrimination and Bangladeshi fortune seekers area leaving their country by fishing boats. And brokers are earning money sending these people Malaysia illegally by trawlers.

The concerned people said that the human traffickers first picked the migrants by boats and took to Thailand. Then, keeping these people in forest few days, the migrants were taken to Malaysia or Indonesia by boats. But, recently Thailand government started drive against human trafficking and Malaysia and Indonesia government alerted their coast guards. As a result, over eight thousand migrants stuck in the sea. Already some eight hundred people were rescued from a boat most of them are Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants.  

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a report said that about 25,000 Rohingya were trafficked from January to March 2015 which is double than last year.

The report also said that about 300 migrants lost their lives during the risky travels in the first three months of the current year. Most of them died due to lack of water, food and torturing.

risingbd/May 17, 2015/Nasim/Augustin Sujan