Govt working to send back Myanmar border guards as before: Hasan Mahmud

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said that the government is working to send back Myanmar‍‍`s border guards who have taken refuge in Bangladesh in the same way that they did before.

Till Tuesday noon, 177 new members of Myanmar Border Guard Police have entered Bangladesh, he said, adding that some civilians who tried to come were sent back.

The Foreign Minister was responding to questions from the journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Asked whether the ambassador of Myanmar will be summoned, Minister Hasan said that his Ministry is in constant contact with them.

The Ambassador will be summoned if necessary, but not yet called, he said.

The Foreign Minister said that members of their border guard and army and some members of their families had taken shelter from Myanmar earlier.

"We sent them back through discussion with the Myanmar government. The same thing is being done this time,  too. Such situation is repeatedly created due to the volatile situation inside Myanmar, especially in the border areas," Hasan said.

Regarding the courtesy meeting with the High Commissioner of Malaysia Haznah Md. Hashim, Foreign Minister Hasan said that the welfare and employment growth of Bangladeshis working in Malaysia, more investment from Malaysia, which is the 8th highest country investing in Bangladesh, and Bangladesh‍‍`s application for dialogue partnership with ASEAN countries, were discussed.

Total Market Management Plan

The minister said public anger has been created against dishonest traders and this needs to be utilised as a strength. "Besides, the government is planning a comprehensive market management, so that traders cannot do whatever they want."

Referring to the mindset of the businessmen, Hasan said, "Hopefully good sense will prevail among the businessmen in the holy month of Ramadan and they will refrain from the tendency to make excessive profits."

Responding to a question, Awami League joint general secretary Hasan said BNP leaders have been criticizing the government day and night.

"They say there is no freedom of speech! In fact, they say all these things in extreme frustration after the election, they just want to sustain, nothing else," he said.