We are Prepared to Handle Any Situation at Border: Home Affairs Advisor
Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that Bangladesh is ready to handle any situation at the border.
On Monday (December 30) afternoon, while visiting the border at Damdamiya on the Naf River in Teknaf, he made this statement in response to questions from journalists at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport jetty.
The Home Affairs Advisor said, "Gunshots are still heard at the border, but the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard are performing their duties professionally to ensure the safety of the border residents. There is no reason for the local people to panic. The entire border is under our control, and we are ready to deal with any situation at the border. The personnel of all forces at the border have been increased."
He further added that a decision has not yet been made regarding the registration of new entrants. This is because no policy decision has been made about granting refuge to them in Bangladesh. "The Bangladesh border is completely under the control of the BGB, and the local people have no reason to fear. However, some brokers are helping Rohingya people to infiltrate. To protect our interests, we have been maintaining communication with the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army from the beginning."
Bangladesh is maintaining communication with both revolutionary groups and the government.
Noting that Teknaf is notorious for drug trafficking, the Advisor said, "Drug trafficking has been a longstanding issue in Bangladesh. However, we must work together to stop it because this cannot be solved by law alone." He added that once the situation at the border is resolved, fishing in the Naf River and the opening of a corridor at Shahpari Island will be allowed.
He also stated, "Sixty thousand Rohingya have infiltrated Bangladesh unnoticed by the border forces. Some unscrupulous brokers are desperately helping these Rohingya to enter the country bypassing the hard work of all the forces. We need everyone's cooperation to stop this broker network, or they will become dangerous. Dr. Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, has drawn the attention of global leaders at the UN to the repatriation of the Rohingya." He emphasized that illegal immigration would not be allowed, regardless of the circumstances.
Earlier, the Home Affairs Advisor arrived in Teknaf by helicopter from Dhaka in the afternoon. He then held a meeting with officers at the 2 BGB Battalion, after which he visited several border points in Teknaf to observe the overall situation. He was accompanied by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui.
Comments