IT was extremely painful to read the report about how the Bangladesh police and border guards are turning back Rohingya migrants from Myanmar where the military is burning their villages and raping women (Nov 24).

One such refugee, Aleya Khatun, 38, said a landmine exploded as she crossed into Bangladesh overnight with nine other families, killing her neighbour Johra and injuring her. “I brought Johra’s three children with me as they had nobody to look after them.”

Many made it with the help of Bangladeshi human smugglers. Jahanara Begum, 40, said she had been travelling with her teenage daughter and niece, who had since gone missing.

“The man who got us in said the two girls were arrested. But no police came to us.” She said the smugglers threatened to turn her over to the authorities if she made a fuss about the missing girls. “I am sure they were kidnapped by the locals.”

I cried when I read this report. How can Hasina Wajid, a woman herself, let her law-enforcers treat these most unfortunate and persecuted women and children so inhumanly?

She should try to put herself in their place and see how she would have felt in such a situation.

Millions of Bangladeshis have gone to Pakistan and other countries as economic migrants, without being thrown out.

There are millions of Afghans and over a 100,000 Myanmar refugees living in Pakistan alone.

Who else will look after the poor Rohingyas, who are far more deserving of help, if Dhaka refuses to take them in?

There is a beautiful saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which I have myself seen working many times: “You should be kind to those who are on earth, and He, Who is in the Heavens will be kind to you.”

Khalid Perwaiz
Karachi

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ROHINGYAS, a Muslim community residing in Myanmar, have been deprived of their fundamental citizenship rights.

Furthermore, recent operation in Rakhine was witness to communal violence between Rohingyas and Buddhists.

The vulnerabilities of the community is unbearable and as it is the target of torture by the government.

Ms Suu Kyi is quiet on the terrible conditions of the Rohingya people.

According to media reports, about 130 Rohingyas were killed last month by the government. So far, 32,000 Rohingyas are formally registered while 200,000 are residing without any help by the government or charities.

The world should do its utmost to persuade Myanmar to reform its attitude towards Rohingyas and treat them with humanity and compassion.

Fatima Abdul Ghafoor
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016