Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam, said that traders importing goods from Myanmar must pay taxes first to the Myanmar government in Sittwe and later to the Arakan Army while crossing the Naf River border. Given the evolving border situation, Bangladesh is maintaining both formal and informal communication with both parties, including the Myanmar government.
He made these statements on Saturday morning while speaking to journalists after a meeting between officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture at the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office.
He acknowledged the tax issue as a significant one, and said the government is actively working to resolve it.
In response to a question from journalists, Jahangir Alam said: "The trend of abductions in Cox’s Bazar has increased significantly. Bangladesh is currently sheltering 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, many of whom are involved in various crimes, including kidnappings.”
He added: “The sooner we can repatriate them, the better for us. They are creating more problems, and we are trying to send them back as soon as possible."
During the meeting, when questioned about law enforcement, the adviser ordered the immediate removal of Chakaria Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Manzur Kader Bhuiyan due to his controversial actions, saying: "I am directing that OC Manzur Kader Bhuiyan be withdrawn by today."
The meeting was attended by officials from the armed forces, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar, the Department of Prisons, Fire Service and Civil Defense, the Department of Immigration and Passports, the Department of Narcotics Control, and various offices under the Ministry of Agriculture in Cox’s Bazar district.
Later, at 11:30am, the home affairs adviser is scheduled to attend the official flag-raising ceremony at the training ground of the Cox’s Bazar Battalion (34 BGB). The event will mark the inauguration of the newly formed Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB), the station headquarters, the Armed Police Battalion, and the K-9 Unit & Training Centre.
