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Govt to issue red alert to stop Rohingyas’ getting passport


Published : 30 May 2019 09:41 PM | Updated : 03 Sep 2020 10:49 AM

The authorities are going to issue a red alert to stop Rohingyas getting Bangladeshi passports, according to ministry sources. The strong initiative is coming after the recent arrest of a large number of Rohingyas from different areas of the country. Most of the arrested Rohingyas admitted that they obtained Bangladeshi passports through some local brokers. Considering the whole situation, authorities are going to issue a red alert so that the Myanmar citizens, who were forced to leave their country and take shelter in Bangladesh, can never obtain a Bangladeshi passport. Some Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have also, in writing, informed the ministry that Rohingyas have become desperate to obtain Bangladeshi passports at any cost. On such reports from the DCs, the cabinet division is to make such a move. The official letters will also instruct the concerned officials so that the Rohingyas cannot involve in any criminal activities like militancy and drug peddling. According to the ministry sources, Rohingyas have intensified their moves in every district to get Bangladesh passports. In some cases, they are giving huge amounts of money to the brokers only to get a Bangladeshi passport. A section of corrupt police personnel and some officials of the passport directorate are also allegedly involved in the racket. Cabinet sources, said, through home ministry, local government ministry and other concerned ministries, the cabinet division will issue a special circular in this regard. The letter will instruct all concerned to be more alert in checking step by step, all those papers which are necessary for getting a passport. The letter will even request to communicate with the officers who attested the pictures and applications of the applicants, over phone. If found suspicious, the concerned officials must have long talks with the applicants to verify their original identities. Additional Secretary of Cabinet Division, Rezaul Ahsan said, order has already been issued so that Rohingyas can never get any passport. They are on alert. But we shall write them to take more strict initiatives in this regard. About issuing red alert, he said, they always remain on red alert about passport. But, it is not possible by the administration only. All must come forward in this issue. According to the letter of the cabinet, Rohingyas are fleeing across the country from Cox's Bazar camps. They are involving in different criminal activities. As a result, local people are in serious panic. At least one hundred Rohingyas were arrested only in a week, which is very alarming.
More cautionary measures must to be taken, the letter reads. According to the local sources, in the darkness of night, Rohingyas are leaving camps and taking shelter outside the district. They make deals with brokers for everything, from bringing them out from the camps to getting passports. Brokers provide one stop service like dealing to hand over illegal passports among the Myanmar citizens. Brokers select districts outside Chattogram division because getting passports in the Chattogram districts is now tough. Recently ten Rohingya nationals were arrested in Khulna within one week. Later, they were returned to their camps. The DC of Khulna in his report urged the cabinet ministry to take initiatives to resist Rohingyas coming out of their camps and getting passports.
Mohammad Helal Hossain, Khulna DC said, 'We arrested several Rohingyas within a week which is very alarming. I asked everyone to be on high alert so that Rohingyas can never get passports under any condition, ' he added. He said, we return the Rohingya to their camps, but those who are involved in crime, are handed over to the police.'

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