Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said Bangladesh will open fire at border with Myanmar to stop arms and drugs smuggling and human trafficking,
“We decided never to open fire at the border. But I had a discussion with the home minister Monday about the current situation at the border and decided that we will open fire in the future,” he said.
The foreign minister was talking to journalists after a programme at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in the morning.
He added: “Only then crimes like human trafficking or drugs and arms smuggling will stop.”
The foreign minister said, “We have a history with Myanmar. In 1982, two lakh Rohingyas came to Bangladesh and were repatriated through negotiations.”
In 1992, another 2.53 lakh Rohingyas arrived and 2.36 lakh of them returned while others were taken by UNHCR. This time the number is bigger -- 11 lakh, he added.
Regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's statement on Monday, he said, “We are talking about repatriation. But several international agencies are talking of long-term rehabilitation.”