United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday said the three Bangladeshis recently repatriated from Malaysia are not militants. "They're not militants... their visas had simply expired," he said while talking to reporters following an inspection of the Export Cargo Village at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The adviser said there are no militants in Bangladesh and those sent back from Malaysia have no links to militancy either. When asked about the Malaysian police chief’s statement on the matter, the adviser replied, “I am not aware of whether they termed the returnees as militants. We have not received any official communication from Malaysia in this regard. But, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already issued a statement on the matter.” The adviser said there have been no reports of militancy in the country over the past ten months. He appreciated the collective national efforts for the successful eradication of militancy from Bangladesh. Army conducts successful operation against KNF militants in Bandarban Regarding airport operations, the adviser acknowledged that recent disruptions in export activities were due to procedural complications from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). These disruptions, he said, particularly affected the exporters of agricultural goods. Highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing this issue, Jahangir Alam said the new terminal at the airport would feature cold storage facilities dedicated to agricultural exports. He emphasised the importance of boosting vegetable and agro-produce exports and expanding pre-loading cold storage services. At least 13 people killed in Pakistani strikes on suspected militant hideouts in Afghanistan The adviser also stressed the need for diversifying export commodities rather than relying on a single product category.

Amid frequent reports of push-in by Indian Border Security Force (BSF), Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Tuesday that the borders along the neighbouring country are completely safe and protected. “There has been no lack of safety and our people and borders are completely safe,” he said. He made the claims while briefing the media after attending the passing-out parade of the 14th batch of Deputy Jail Superintendents and the 62nd batch of male and female prison guards at Rajshahi Prison Training Centre. Regarding the push-ins by BSF, the home adviser said India has been asked to send people through proper channels if they are Bangladeshis. “We are prepared to return our citizens through the appropriate process, just as we send back citizens from various countries, including India, who are living illegally in our country. Discussions on this matter have taken place at various levels. Besides, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also in touch with them in this regard,” he said. New wave of  border tensions: ‘Push-ins’ continue despite  Bangladesh’s protests Regarding preparations for Eid-ul-Azha, the Home Adviser said law enforcement agencies have been instructed to take all necessary measures to ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully. Claiming that commodity prices remain at a tolerable level, he said paddy production has increased by 15 lakh tonnes and that potato prices have declined. Inspector General of Prisons Brig. Genl Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain, Divisional Commissioner Khondkar Azim Ahmed, DIG of Rajshahi Range Mohammad Shahjahan, RMP Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufiyan, District Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhtar, Superintendent of Police Farzana Islam, and Commandant of Rajshahi Jail Training Center Mohammad Kamal Hossain, among others, were present at the event.