Adopted in the Closing Session Presided by Mr. Sanjeeb Chowdhury
[Dhaka Seminar 2005 was attended among others by Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, UNHCR Representative Mr. B.C. Lee, Dutch Ambassador H.E. Beemsterboer, EU Deleg. 3rd Secretary Jenni Chritensen, BD Buddhists’ Secretary-General Dr.P.K.Barua, Hindu Saint Priobroto Brhamyachari and Christian leader Rev. Father Timm.]
National Press Club, Dhaka, 08 August 2005
RESOLUTIONS
1. Reached unanimous and conclusive resolution that the law enforcing agencies and their officials are not above law and not beyond the jurisdiction of legal actions. The field officials are not obliged to carry out the unlawful instructions of their higher authority.
2. Reminds the Government about its responsibility to impart appropriate training to the officials of law enforcing agencies regarding the standards of national and international laws pertaining to human rights.
3. Notes with concern that, in spite of being inherently Muslims, the Arakani Rohingyas are treated as minority community and deprived of all civic and human rights in a predominantly Muslim country like Bangladesh. It is evident that, the tendency prevailing in our country about identifying ethnic minority in the name of religion is not actually due to religious differences, rather owing to age old prejudices and selfish narrow-mindedness.
4. Advises the Rohingya and Rakhain communities of Arakan to forge a strong and solid unity so as to be able to collectively realize their civil liberties and human rights and attain freedom from the unlawful actions and ruthless atrocities of despotic rulers.
5. Extends unequivocal supports to the fundamental freedom and universal human rights of the entire mankind irrespective of nationality, religion and color. Especially pleads for ensuring comprehensive human rights and security of minority communities throughout the world.
6. Calls upon the government of Bangladesh to collect funds committed by European Union for Rohingya and Rakhain refugees and immediately undertake necessary interventions to alleviate disgraceful miseries of the refugees.
7. Requests the government to register all unregistered Rakhain and Rohingya refugees and provide the necessary support and assistances to them.
8. Strongly urges the government to provide identity cards and necessary travel documents to the Rohingya and Rakhain refugees in order to facilitate their legal migration within Bangladesh and abroad. The international community including UNHCR is requested to extend generous support to this endeavor.
9. Expresses strong resolute to remain engaged in its continued struggles to the pursuit of ensuring comprehensive and universal human rights of different religious and ethnic minority communities at different places of Bangladesh, in the neighboring countries and throughout the world.
