No right to kill at border: Touhid

Foreign Affairs Adviser M.A. Touhid Hussain on Wednesday stated that the government has not softened its stance on the border killings by India.

“No border guard force has the right to shoot and kill anyone who violates the law at the border,” he said, adding that if someone commits such an act and violates the law, he or she can be prosecuted under the laws of the land.

He made these remarks on Wednesday while talking to reporters after the inauguration ceremony of the month-long photography and graffiti exhibition commemorating the July Uprising, held at the Foreign Service Academy.

When asked if the government's position on protesting border killings was lenient, Tohid Hussain replied, "Not at all. We are stating clearly that the border guard force does not have the right to shoot and kill anyone who violates the law at the border. We have also been consistently protesting this matter."

Regarding the question of sending back the Indian people who were pushed in from India, the Adviser said, "We don't need to make any effort to send them back. They are their citizens; they will take them back. There is nothing to be worried about on this issue. Even Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, India, has protested this matter. The Indian citizens who are here will go back; there is no doubt about that. However, the process will take some time."

Commenting on the ‘push-back’ of Bangladeshi people by India, he said, this is ongoing, but this is contrary to the arrangement that exists with India.

“We have told them multiple times: there is a mechanism with you; you will provide the list, and we will review it. If they are our people, we will certainly take them back. And through the arrangement, we have recently taken back quite a few citizens. We are insisting that they maintain this procedure. This is our expectation.”

Regarding the arrest of Bangladeshis in Malaysia, he said he had a meeting with the Malaysian Foreign Minister recently and he said that Bangladesh would provide full support to the Malaysian government in the probe into the matter.

“I also sought the entire details of the arrested people so that we can investigate the issue from our end,” he said, adding that the Bangladesh government is following a zero-tolerance policy regarding terrorism.

Replying to a question, he said the recent surge in rejections of visas for Bangladeshis is a matter of concern, but at the same time, the visa seekers cannot avoid the responsibility as there is evidence that very often they submit faulty documents.

Responding to a question, he reiterated that there is no move to float an alliance among Bangladesh, Pakistan and China as propagated in some sections of the media.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com