Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Thursday that the government has strengthened its position along the border to the tension created by the internal conflict in Myanmar.
“We aren’t in favour of opening the border and we won’t not allow this opportunity to anyone. Bangladesh will write to the United Nations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about its concern over the Myanmar conflict,” he said.
Quader, also Awami League (AL) general secretary, said this at a press briefing at the AL central office on the Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
"Those who fled to Bangladesh were members of their border guards and army while the Myanmar ambassador was summoned and they would take them back and must be taken back. There is no alternative to not taking them back," he said.
“We can’t keep the fear alive across our border. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working and will write to the United Nations. Myanmar also has border with India. Our foreign minister is currently in India. Important discussions including the Myanmar border issue have already taken place with India.”
Addressing the current situation of the opposition BNP, he said that the BNP has lost its mind as US President Joe Biden has talked about working together with Bangladesh.
“UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has given the message. The French president also sent a message. Now all hope of the BNP is over. They thought foreign friends would stand by (them). Their hopes are completely gone,” he claimed.
Regarding Rohingyas’ stay in Bangladesh and their infiltration, he said that the BNP first allowed Rohingyas to come when they were in power. "Have they forgotten their past history?"
‘’What our leader Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has done, everyone including the United Nations has praised,’’ he said.
Regarding the distribution and submission of AL nomination forms for women reserved seats in the 12th Parliament, the party general secretary said a total of 1,549 nomination forms were sold in the last three days.
The party's income has been Tk 7 crore 74.50 lakh. A meeting of the party's parliamentary nomination board will be held on February 14 with party President Sheikh Hasina in the chair.