Drives will be conducted to seize arms and ammunition entering the country illegally, said Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Sunday. “According to reports of intelligence agencies, many arms and ammunition are entering the country illegally and drives will be conducted in the areas where illegal arms smuggling is taking place on specific information,” he said. The minister revealed this information while talking to reporters after the cabinet committee meeting on law and order situation at the Home Ministry. Many people have made fake licences for arms and these will be scrutinised, he added. Talking about Rohingya, Mozammel said “The Rohingyas do not want to leave the country. In order to facilitate their return to their own country, the law and order situation will be maintained at the Rohingya camps apart from the diplomatic efforts. Besides, the NGOs working at the Rohingya camps have to disclose details of their money given by different organisations to see how much money they spent for Rohingyas. “There are allegations about many NGOs that they do terror financing…It will be investigated,” he said. Referring to cybercrime, the minister said law enforcement agencies are trying and they have sent letters to different social networking sites including Facebook, and Youtube but no response has come yet. Also read: 3 ‘members of new militant outfit’ held with arms, explosives in Bandarban He also demanded the opening of an office of social networking sites by which false propaganda can be controlled. Referring to the drug issue, Mozammel said a discussion was held over how to control the use of drugs. Already, a list has been published naming the drug peddlers, drug users and smugglers, but a permanent list will be made, he said. Also read: Smuggled firearms “from India” causing concern for Bangladesh law enforcers Besides, a brief discussion was held over the security ahead of the February 21st as measures hasve been taken to ensure security for diplomats as they can pay tribute easily, said the minister. Talking about the law and order situation, Mozammel said “The law and order situation is normal now and we are satisfied with it.” He also urged the law enforcers to refrain from doing anything which can tarnish the image of the law enforcers.  

A special operational team of Bangladesh Army under Roma Zone conducted a drive at Minjhiripara of Bandarban district and seized illegal arms, ammunition and other contraband items after a brief gunfight with a group of terrorists early Tuesday. On the basis of secret information, the operational Army team conducted the drive at hilly terrorists’ hideout at Minjhiripara at around 3:35 am. They reached the targeted area overcoming various natural obstacles and inaccessible mountain paths. Also read: Army operation in Bandarban: Weapons, huge amount of ammunition and equipment recovered As the operational team approached the terrorist hideout, the army exchanged fire with the terrorist group and at one point the terrorists fled their hideout, said an Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) press release on Tuesday afternoon. Later, they searched the terrorists' hideout and found 2 Russian made SMGs, three magazines, 12 rounds of SMG ammunition, three rounds of pistol ammunition, a knife, 100 grams each of cannabis and opium, 750 ml of local made liquor, one solar charger and one combat bag. Also read: ‘Police, Ansar, BGB to be deployed at vacant CHT army camps’ It is to be noted that this terrorist group besides collecting donations from the locals through terrorist activities, it has been carrying out various anti-social campaigns through various social media against the country and the security forces.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested a driver of Paribahan pool under Directorate General of Health Services from Turag area in the city early Sunday.

Police on Wednesday submitted chargesheets against Regent Group Chairman Mohammad Shahed Karim in two separate cased filed for keeping illegal arms and foreign currency.