Home ›› 08 May 2023 ›› Governance
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday warned that armed criminals and or militant groups in the hill districts, whatever the name they carry or wherever they are from, will not be spared.
“No armed criminals or militant groups will be spared in the hills. We are trying to resist them. We will also take initiative if any criminal wants to return to normal life,” said the minister while talking to reporters after attending the concluding ceremony of the training of the 99th recruit batch of the Border Guard Bangladesh at Bir Uttam Mojibur Rahman parade ground of Border Guard Training Centre and College in Baitul Izzat of Satkania in Chattogram.
The BGB force has been strengthened through modern equipment to protect the bordering area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said. The minister said the hill districts feature remote areas and borders and the BGB requires to remain watchful there. “For this, we have given the BGB helicopters to achieve the goal’,” he said adding the BGB has been strengthened through modern equipment to protect bordering areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said.
He also said that BGB is now capable of performing duties in water, land and air as the government has provided it with modern surveillance equipment, active anti-tank guided weapons, ATVs, APCs, riot control vehicles and airboats as part of smart border management.
He said the government is going to construct border roads. Citing the recent rise of militancy and extremism, the minister said militants would not exist if the border roads are built.
The minister said the government will come up with all kinds of support if anyone involved in militancy and extremism wants to return to normal life.
Asaduzzman also said the government is also considering setting up new border outposts in the remote areas and efforts are on to increase the workforce of the BGB and equip them with the required training and logistics.
The minister said that since assuming office, the present government has been working tirelessly to develop the BGB a border force of state-of-the-art and international standards.
He said in addition to the BGB Training Centre and College at Baitul Izzat, another training centre with modern facilities is being constructed in Chuadanga.
Recalling the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech at the closing parade of the 3rd batch of the then BDR on December 5, 1974, Asaduzzman asked the young BGB personnel to acquire professional skills to prevent smuggling.
A total of 539 recruits – 502 male and 37 female – completed the 24-week basic training at Baitul Izzat. Md Suhail Mia, Chest Number 466, was awarded as the Best Smart Recruit of the 99th Recruit Batch.
Public Security Division Secretary Md Mostafizur Rahman and BGB Director General Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan were also present at the event.
