The Crime Desk: Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, ‘What is happening in Myanmar is their internal matter. There is a conflict between government forces, Arakan forces, and others. It is true that sometimes two bullets have landed in our country due to the conflict, and two people have also died. Recently, the ambassador of Myanmar was called and strongly protested against this incident.
The Foreign Minister spoke to the journalists before the opening ceremony of the multi-cultural festival organized by the district administration at the DC Park on the Faujdarhat-Bandar road in Chittagong on Saturday (February 10) evening. He said these things at the time.
Referring to the situation in Myanmar, the minister said that not only Myanmar’s border forces and army members have infiltrated our country, but hundreds of people have drowned in India as well. They also took them back to Myanmar.
In response to the question of whether the government will cooperate with the Arakan Army to take back the citizens displaced from Myanmar and settled in Bangladesh, he said, “I have already visited various countries, including India.” I have discussed this with the Foreign Minister of India. I met the Foreign Minister of Myanmar at the NAM Summit. I told him, at least, to start the repatriation. In his words, I think Myanmar agrees on the start of repatriation. But due to their current internal crises, they cannot do so at the moment.
The joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League said that the only solution is to send back all the displaced people of Myanmar who are in our country with respect and civil rights. I am working towards that solution.
Regarding the statement of BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi that the impact of the internal conflict in Myanmar is affecting Bangladesh, the government is unable to deal with it due to its knee-jerk foreign policy. The foreign minister said that several family members have fled from Myanmar along with their border forces and army to our country. Myanmar has already agreed to take them back. We are continuing to negotiate with them. Our ambassador had a meeting with the foreign minister of Myanmar. The process to bring them back is a matter of finalization. There is no foreign policy issue here.
In response to another question from the journalists, he further said that the BNP has no politics now. The mistake they made by not participating in the elections was their suicidal decision. That is why their leaders are now questionable to workers. Their workers are now frustrated, trying to prove that they are still alive with various statements to overcome that frustration.
Later, in the opening ceremony of the multi-cultural festival organized by the district administration, the chief guest said: Hashan Mahmud said that the government of Bangabandhu’s daughter, Sheikh Hasina, has undertaken many projects for the development of Chittagong in the last 15 years. The first tunnel under the river in the Indian subcontinent was made through the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong. A bay-terminal is going to be built here. If it is built, it will be another Chittagong port. Now the total length of Chittagong port is 6 km. And the bay-terminal will be 10 km. The draft of the bay-terminal will be 12 meters. Its operations will start soon. The first phase will be completed within the next three years. The economic activity that will increase here after that is unimaginable.
He said, I visited India yesterday. I have also discussed this with the Foreign Minister and Commerce Minister of India. They are eager for their north-eastern provinces to be able to import and export goods through our Chittagong port. Similarly, we are also sitting eagerly. I hope that will start very soon too.
The Foreign Minister said that the Chittagong port link road will be four-lane from Faujdar Hat. Because traffic is increasing. Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar will be connected with this road. When the tunnel is in full use, there will be much more traffic. More will increase when the Bay Terminal is built.
Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Abul Bashar Md. Fakhruzzaman presided over the opening ceremony of the multi-cultural festival. Special guests were Philippine Ambassador Leo Tittle Ausan Jr., FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam, and Indian Assistant High Commissioner Dr. Rajeev Ranjan. Sitakunda Upazila executive officer KM Rafiqul Islam gave a welcome speech.
