Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan has issued the following statement on 26 July 2019 protesting and condemning the derogatory comments of the Health Minister Zahid Maleque as he has compared the breeding capacity of Aedes mosquito with the rise in Rohingya refugee population.

While addressing a seminar on dengue at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Thursday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque made an objectionable comment as he has compared the breeding capacity of Aedes mosquito with the rise in Rohingya refugee population. I am vehemently protesting and condemning his humiliating comment.

The countrymen are highly aggrieved and shocked at his irresponsible remark. By making such derogatory comments against the Rohingya community, he has demeaned the oppressed humanity. While he was supposed to admit the failure of the government in resisting Aedes mosquitoes; but instead of doing so, he has ridiculed with the people by an unjustifiable comparison between the Rohingya Muslims and the Aedes mosquitoes.

The dengue fever, which is turning into an epidemic form due to massive hit of Aedes, the healthy and sophisticated mosquitos. On an average, one patient is being admitted in hospital due to dengue fever and many of them have died already. The finance minister on last 25 July stated that, “I have suffered of dengue fever and clearly realize the pain of this diseases. I pray to Allah for the protection of the people from this fatal disease.” While the finance minister is saying like that then how could the health minister make such an irresponsible comment?

The hospitals are not able to accommodate the patients. Under such a critical condition, the derogatory comments of the health minister are really painful. It exposes his irresponsibility as a whole. Such attitude is unpardonable.

I am urging the health minister to seek pardon for his irresponsible comments. I am also calling upon him to withdraw such derogatory comments which he has made against the persecuted Rohingya community.