Govt orders vigilance boost

The government has ordered the home ministry and other authorities concerned to intensify vigilance at the border, especially along the sea, to halt any sort of illegal and risky migration from Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Dhaka will emphasise resolving the crisis concerning Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar at a May 29 special regional meeting Thailand is hosting in Bangkok to address the flow of illegal migrants through the Bay of Bengal.

A highly placed source told The Daily Star that a five-member Bangladesh delegation will propose for a comprehensive approach and mount pressure on Myanmar to settle the Rohingya issue.

In another development, the government asked its envoys in Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to go for extensive coordination for safety, security and safe return of Bangladeshi migrants.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque hosted the urgent meeting of the envoys at state guesthouse Meghna last evening.

Regarding the government vigilance order, the local administration, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, coastguard and navy have also been asked to set up an all-out barricade and strictly enforce all existing legal mechanism.

Besides, security and intelligence agencies have been advised to keep track of any quarters involved in the malpractice.

A highly placed source told The Daily Star that the Prime Minister's Office has tasked the foreign ministry to coordinate the issue and peacefully resolve the current migration crisis and hold extensive meetings with the countries and international agencies concerned for safety and security of the migrants as well as arranging their safe return upon verification of nationality.

As per the instruction, the foreign ministry yesterday conveyed an inter-ministerial meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque in the chair. Senior officials from the ministries of home, foreign, welfare and relief, police, BGB, coastguard, navy and intelligence agencies attended.

Meeting sources said the law enforcing agencies and local administration pointed out the role of local elected representatives and blamed them for the illegal migration.

It is alleged that in many cases the local administration felt embarrassed and could not take action or stop illegal migration, particularly through sea routes, as local ruling party men and elected representatives are directly involved with the illegal activities, sources said.

The meeting also discussed ways and means to resist the voyage of Bangladeshis along with Myanmar's Rohingyas using boat.

The inter-ministerial meeting opined that strict enforcement of all legal mechanism could check illegal migration.