Rohingya Boat People

The Bangladesh government has refused to allow some 500 Rohingya refugee women, men and children, fleeing Mayanmar and now stranded on board two fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal and who are believed to have been at sea for weeks to come ashore.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Al Jazeera that the Rohingya refugees are "not Bangladesh's responsibility."

The two trawlers have already been refused safe harbour by Malaysia.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the government of Bangladesh should immediately allow stranded refugees ashore and provide them with the necessary food, water, and healthcare.

"Bangladesh has shouldered a heavy burden as the result of the Myanmar military's atrocity crimes, but this is no excuse to push boatloads of refugees out to sea to die," said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW. "Bangladesh should continue to help those at grave risk and preserve the international goodwill it has gained in recent years for helping the Rohingya." It is believed that most of the Rohingya refugees on board the trawlers had left refugee camps in Bangladesh in an attempt to reach Malaysia, according to HRW.

HRW also said that "all countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have the responsibility under international law to respond to boats in distress, enact or coordinate rescue operations within their search and rescue operations, and not to push back asylum seekers risking their lives at sea."

Amnesty International last week called on Southeast Asian governments to launch immediate search and rescue operations for potentially hundreds more Rohingya refugees languishing at sea.

"All countries in the region have a responsibility to ensure the seas do not become graveyards for people seeking safety. Bangladesh cannot be left to address this situation alone. The fact that it is upholding its own obligations is not an excuse for others to abandon theirs," said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia director at Amnesty International.