‘Illegal immigrants issue top priority’

Bangladesh High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali on Tuesday said that the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India, particularly those with links to terrorist outfits, was being handled on a priority basis. He said regular meetings at various levels between both the governments were being held round the year.

Over the past two weeks, the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad has arrested 30 alleged citizens of Bangladeshi from various parts of the State. Three of the arrested accused claimed to be members of Ansarullah Bangla Team, a terrorist organisation, which owes allegiance to the Al-Qaeda and is banned in Bangladesh.

Mr. Ali, while interacting with journalists at Mumbai Press Club on Tuesday, said, “There is consistent coordination between India and Bangladesh over the issue. Information is shared regularly. The border security agencies of both countries meet twice a year, and Home Ministers of the countries meet at least once a year to discuss the issue. It is being constantly reviewed. The Bangladesh government has also nabbed and handed over insurgent elements to Indian security agencies.”

He said, “More than a million Rohingyas are in need of jobs and it is possible that they could fall into wrong hands. The issue thus needs to be dealt with as swiftly as possible.” Mr Ali said controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was a cause for concern in Bangladesh as well as one of the perpetrators of the 2016 Dhaka attack, Rohan Imtiaz, was found to be a followed of Dr. Naik.

Mr. Ali said, “Dr. Naik has a large following in India as well as in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh banned Dr. Naik six months before India did. We did not want him to preach certain ideas that were not in line with our secular values.”

Mr. Ali said the governments of both countries were in talks to ensure bilateral cooperation in fields such as security, trade, connectivity, energy, and civil nuclear agreement.