Home Advisor: Government Engaged with Arakan Army and Myanmar on Border Issue

Home Affairs Adviser Discusses Border Trade, Rohingya Repatriation, and Law Enforcement Measures

• Taxation on Myanmar Imports:
  Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam stated that traders importing goods from Myanmar must first pay taxes to the Myanmar government in Sittwe and then to the Arakan Army while crossing the Naf River border. Given the changing border situation, Bangladesh is maintaining both formal and informal communication with both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army.

• Efforts to Address Taxation Issues:
  Speaking to journalists on Saturday morning after a meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture at the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office, he acknowledged that the taxation issue is significant and assured that the government is actively working to resolve it.

• Rise in Abductions & Rohingya Involvement:
  In response to questions from journalists, Jahangir Alam highlighted that the trend of abductions in Cox’s Bazar has risen sharply. He noted that Bangladesh is currently sheltering 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, some of whom are involved in crimes, including kidnappings.

• Urgency of Rohingya Repatriation:
  Emphasizing the need for swift action, he stated: "The earlier we can repatriate them, the better for us. They are contributing to more problems, and we are working to send them back as soon as possible."

• Law Enforcement Directives:
  Addressing law enforcement concerns, the adviser ordered the immediate removal of Chakaria Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Manzur Kader Bhuiyan due to controversial actions. He directed: "OC Manzur Kader Bhuiyan must be withdrawn today."

• High-Level Meeting Attendance:
  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.

• Upcoming Official Engagements:
  At 11:30 AM, the home affairs adviser is set 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), along with the station headquarters, the Armed Police Battalion, and the K-9 Unit & Training Centre.