Dhaka (September 09, 2024 AD):Home Affairs Advisor Lt. Gen. Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) said, 100% security has been ensured for all foreign nationals living in Bangladesh.
He said these things during the meeting of Canada’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls in his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat this afternoon with the advisor.
During the meeting, various issues of mutual interest were discussed including development of mutual relations between the two countries, safety of foreign nationals including Canada, Rohingya situation, police reform, cooperation in agriculture sector, return of smuggled money.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Advisor welcomed the High Commissioner. When the High Commissioner asked about the safety of foreigners including Canada, the adviser said that there is no reason for foreigners to fear about security. We have provided complete security for them. He said that the law and order situation in Bangladesh is gradually improving. The advisor expressed hope that the law and order situation would be able to be brought to a more satisfactory level very soon.
When the High Commissioner expressed concern about the recent Rohingya situation, the advisor said, we are monitoring the Rohingya situation very closely. He said we have given top priority to the security of the Myanmar nationals living in the Rohingya camps, as well as the local and foreign NG workers working there and the international community. Necessary instructions have been given to the concerned in this regard. He also said that Bangladesh has been providing shelter and necessary support to 1.2 million Rohingya refugees for many years despite its limited financial capacity. Now is the time to repatriate this huge population and rehabilitate them in other countries. The adviser also requested the resettlement of some Rohingyas in Canada.
When the advisor asked for Canada’s help in police reform, the High Commissioner said that a project related to Canada’s cooperation in police training is underway in Bangladesh. Canada can play a greater role in this by expanding it. The High Commissioner sought the advisor’s cooperation in implementing the Canada-funded ‘Agricultural Technology Centre’ project to transfer modern agricultural technology to Bangladesh. Adviser assures full cooperation in this regard.
Drawing the attention of the Advisor High Commissioner on the issue of bringing back the money smuggled from Bangladesh to Canada, he said that many big criminals of Bangladesh had smuggled a large amount of money to Canada and taken refuge there. Assuring full cooperation in this regard, the High Commissioner said that bringing back the money is challenging and time-consuming but not impossible. In this regard, he requested to send a formal proposal and letter with specific information and evidence through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.
Canadian High Commission Counselor (Political) Marcus Davies, Senior Trade Commissioner and Counselor Debra Boyce along with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs were present in the meeting.