Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) urged today that actions should be taken based on crime, not political affiliation.
“We are not serving the interests of any party. Everything we do is for the benefit of the country,” he emphasized.
The Home Adviser stated that no department in the administration has instructed anyone to show favoritism toward members of any political party.
“If leaders or activists from any party are involved in encroachment or other criminal activities, strict action will be taken against them based on solid evidence,” he added.
He made these comments while speaking with journalists after meeting with officials from the Home and Agriculture Ministries at the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The Home Affairs Adviser also ordered the removal of Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Manjur Quader Bhuiyan within 24 hours, following a complaint made by a journalist.
Jahangir expressed concern over the rise in kidnapping and drug trafficking in Cox’s Bazar, which has been frequently reported by the media.
“You (journalists) and local conscious citizens know who is responsible for these activities. There is a problem in our administration, which prioritizes people from the party likely to come to power,” he remarked.
Regarding the Rohingya issue, the Home Affairs Adviser stated that Bangladesh provided shelter to the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds.
“While the official figure is 1.2 million, the actual number is likely even higher. They have become a burden for us. Without their repatriation, it will be difficult to stop criminal activities in the border areas,” he said.
Jahangir also mentioned that Bangladesh has trade relations with Myanmar, but since the Arakan Army took control of Rakhine State, trade has been hindered. The Arakan Army has detained numerous ships and captured Bangladeshi fishermen. As a result, contact is being maintained with the Arakan Army to ensure border security and facilitate the repatriation of the Rohingyas.
