Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday demanded the government make active diplomatic efforts to force Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

"Our demand is very clear that the government gives food and shelter to Rohingyas and ensures their security and treatment. At the same time, we want the government to put active diplomatic efforts to force the Myanmar government to take back the Rohingyas who fled the country," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He made the demand while speaking at a human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club.

As part of their countrywide programme, BNP arranged the one-hour long human chain from 10am to 11am protesting the repression on Rohingyas in Myanmar.

Fakhrul said they do not want to know whether the Rohingyas are Hindus or Muslims as they are human beings. "The Myanmar government has initiated a war against humanity. We have to put a resistance against them. Let us get united and raise our voice against the mass killing of Rohingyas and force Myanmar to take back those fled the country," he said.

Voicing concern over the trespassing of Myanmar Air Force's helicopter into Bangladesh airspace, he said the Bangladesh government cannot strongly protest the incident due to its knee-jerk foreign policy.

Fakhrul said their party staged the human chain programme to register protests on behalf of the people of Bangladesh against the persecution on Rohingyas.

He alleged that though the entire world has become vocal against the repression on Rohingyas, the Bangladesh government is unfortunately playing the role of a silent spectator as it is not elected with people's votes.

The BNP leader said the government has failed to mount pressure on Myanmar to end the Rohingya problem through diplomatic efforts. "It also didn't take any step to give shelter to Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds."

"It's our basic duty to stand by the repressed and helpless people on humanitarian grounds. But, this government has failed to do so as it has no accountability and relation with people," he said.