DHAKA, 1 March 2005 — A five-member team of the Dhaka-based Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Council (SPGRC) presented a memorandum addressed to Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia here recently seeking her help for the repatriation of the stranded people and drawing her attention to a number of problems faced by them.
The memorandum, submitted by the SPGRC team, following a massive procession, urged the Bangladeshi prime minister to get the international community to exert pressure on Pakistan to take back their stranded nationals in accordance with the Joint Declaration of Aug. 12, 1992 issued at the end of her first official visit to Pakistan.
“We appeal to the Bangladesh government to take immediate steps for holding a tripartite meeting of Pakistan, Bangladesh and SPGRC to resolve the issue amicably,” says the memorandum signed by Alhaj M. Nasim Khan, leader of stranded Pakistanis and chief patron of SPGRC Geneva Camp, Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
The “scanty dole” of monthly relief for stranded Pakistanis remains suspended unilaterally for the last 14 months that has added to their miseries and sufferings, Khan said, adding that the stranded Pakistanis have been living in the most unhygienic conditions and leading a famine-like life.
“They should be given a minimum subsistence allowance as per the terms of the Geneva Convention of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and UNHCR Charter,” he added.
The prime minister has also been urged to persuade the Pakistan government to adopt a liberal policy in granting visas so that people-to-people contact could be established between the two countries.
The memorandum has also called for maintaining water, electricity, and safety and security services without interruption at all camps.
“Bangladesh government has imposed an embargo on my movement. Of course, I can move freely from one end to another in my own country, but I cannot leave the country, as the government has denied me a passport. Consequently, I’m passing my days in statelessness. I fail to understand what’s my crime,” Khan asked Khaleda and urged her to issue him a passport for enabling his travel abroad for health and other reasons.
