Foreign minister hopes to send back Myanmar’s security personnel soon
Hasan says Myanmar authorities agreed to take them back
Members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) and army, who had fled to Bangladesh amid an ongoing internal conflict, will be sent back soon, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said yesterday without disclosing any specific date for it.
"Both sides reached a consensus that they will be sent back soon. I don't want to share any specific date. That's confidential as security issues are involved," he told reporters, wishing not to say anything on technical issues.
The foreign minister said they were working on the issue of security personnel's return to home, adding that it is the Bangladesh government's priority as Myanmar wants to take them back.
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He further added that it was not just the members of the BGP and army, there were some of their family members too.
Over a hundred people also entered India and Myanmar took them back, Hasan said.
Responding to a question, the minister said they kept the media informed from time to time about their arrival. "There is no scope for any hide and seek."
He said the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka was summoned and a strong protest was lodged.
"We never want to see our security being compromised due to Myanmar's internal conflict," he added.
Bangladesh has already given shelter to over 12 lakh Rohingyas, which has created multifarious problems for it, including security threats, climate and illegal drugs trading issues, the foreign minister pointed out.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli said Switzerland is strongly committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
During a meeting with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, they held a "positive and constructive" discussion on a whole array of bilateral topics and other issues of mutual interest.
Ambassador Renggli highlighted the promising prospects economic cooperation holds.
The ambassador underlined Switzerland's role as a reliable and innovative development partner, among other things, promoting key universal principles such as good business practices, and the importance of multilateral cooperation and a vibrant civil society.
Warning against BNP atrocities
Responding to a question on the BNP, Hasan, also a former information minister, termed the party "an old car".
"It takes time to restart an old car. The BNP is like an old car. It stops after moving a short distance."
He expressed hope that the BNP will behave "in a democratic way and will follow the path of democracy".
"No arson attacks by the BNP will be allowed," the AL leader warned.
According to him, the leaders and activists of the BNP have become very disappointed after the last national election and their leadership is in question.
