Bangladesh, which has in the past opposed the concept of constructing fences on any of its frontiers, has for the first time decided to put up a barbed-wire fence along the Myanmar border, to prevent illegal migration of Rohingya muslims.
“We have approved, in principle, the proposal to construct a barbed-wire [fence] along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, set up searchlights, build watchtowers and 21 new outposts to improve border surveillance,” home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir told the parliament on Monday.
“We have also proposed adding two more battalions to the BGB [Border Guard, Bangladesh],” he said, replying to a query by the ruling Awami League’s (AL) lawmaker, Nasimul Alam Chowdhury.
He also stated that Rohingyas were still attempting to enter Bangladesh illegally, but were being prevented by the government’s enhanced patrols along the border.
The BGB has pushed approximately 2,600 Rohingyas back to Myanmar since the beginning of the year, official records show.
The government claims that Myanmar’s persecuted muslim minority, referred to as Rohingyas, cause social and economic hardships for the residents of boarder district Cox’s Bazaar when they enter the country illegally.
Responding to a query by AL MP Nurul Islam, foreign minister Dipu Moni informed the house that Saudi Arabia has requested Dhaka to provide documentation for the Rohingya muslims who entered through Bangladesh in previous years. The request comes while the kingdom is taking steps to legalise the Myanmar nationals.
Dipu said the 2001-2006 BNP-Jamaat government’s tacit support, coupled with corruption in the passport department helped the illegal Rohingyas to get Bangladeshi passports. “They mainly took passport from Chittagong office and started working in Saudi Arabia with legal documents.” she stated.
The foreign minister said the Bangladeshi Consulate in Jeddah has stopped renewing the passports issued during BNP rule. “I want to make it clear the present government has not issued passport not even to a single Rohingya.”