Bangladesh warns of opening fire to curb smuggling along border with Myanmar

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh's foreign minister warned Tuesday of deadly measures to stop illegal arms, drugs and human trafficking along its border with Myanmar.

AK Abdul Momen voiced the government’s new commitment to keep its border safe in the context of the recent murder of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah and the seizure of a large number of drugs by border security.

“Earlier, we had decided not to use live bullets at the Myanmar border. But, from now on, shots could be fired at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to curb illegal activities and smuggling. The smuggling of illegal drugs, arms and border crimes will stop then," he told reporters in eastern Sylhet district. “I had talks with the Home Minister over the current situation at the border and we decided to open fire in the future, if necessary.”

Characterizing the Rohingya leader as an educated man and a teacher, Momen added that “Mohib Ullah’s only goal was to return home and he was killed.” Bangladesh wants to “investigate the killing and his killers must be punished," he said.

Ullah, the head of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, was gunned down outside his office in the Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar last Wednesday.

Bangladesh will also strengthen its border security and the Home Ministry will make the final decision and necessary measures on those issues, he added.

Bangladesh is hosting 1.2 million Rohingya in refugee camps in the southern district of Cox’s Bazar who fled Myanmar's Rakhine State after a brutal military crackdown in August 2017.

Momen also rebuked international agencies that are discussing long-term rehabilitation instead of repatriation of Rohingya to Myanmar.