China's role upsets Menon

The role of China in global affairs including Rohingya issue has disappointed Rashed Khan Menon, a pro-China leftist politician and leader of an ally of the ruling Awami League-led alliance.

He vented frustration over China while addressing a discussion organized by the Samyabadi Dal at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city on Monday, marking the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China. During the Russian-Sino conflict in 1960s, like other countries of the world, the Communist movement was divided into two courses in the then East Pakistan.

Menon, then a student leader, was a supporter of the pro-China group. He is currently the president of the Workers' Party which is known as a pro-China party. In the discussion, Menon said, "We, who has done politics following China, are now disappointed at its role in the global affairs."

About China's opposition in the Liberation War, Menon said, "China had not stood beside us during the Liberation War, which had disappointed us. They sided with the Pakistani genocide. Their role that time had gone against Bangladesh."

China has no relations with working class in Bangladesh. Their relations are only with businessmen, he added."We haven't got them beside us in the Rohingya issue," Menon further said.Bangladesh's permanent representative in the UN and the OIC secretariat jointly made a proposal to resolve the Rohingya crisis, he said, adding that China, India and Japan didn't vote on the proposal.

Menon also criticized Myanmar for its statement that the Rohingya problem is a threat to the regional security.Presided over by Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua, the discussion was also addressed by JSD General Secretary Nazmul Haque Prodhan, Ganatontri Party President Shahadat Hossain.