No concern for Bangladesh over exclusion from Assam citizenship: Foreign minister
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr AK Abdul Momen said that the country believed in India's assurance on the NRC in Assam and that Bangladesh was not concerned over the issue.
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen said that the country believed in India's assurance on the NRC in Assam and that Bangladesh was not concerned over the issue.
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday ruled out any concern for Bangladesh amid the exclusion of nearly two million people from the final citizenship list or the National Registry of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, saying that Bangladesh believes in India's assurance.
Momen said they raised the issue in advance when Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Bangladesh and had a meeting with him on August 20.
Momen wanted to know about the issue from Jaishankar at the meeting and told him that many people are concerned about the Assam NRC in Bangladesh.
"You've heard...he (Jaishankar) categorically said the issue is an internal matter for India, and there'll be no problem (for Bangladesh)," Momen told reporters after attending a function in the city.
Quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Momen said, "There'll be emerging problems and there'll also be emerging solutions."
Momen said Bangladesh was on the highway of development with no lack of jobs for the poor and common people.
"So, I don't believe the people of our country will go to neigbouring countries at the moment. If they might have gone there, it was before 1971 and 1947."
Sylhet border security has been increased after Assam NRC publication on Saturday.
The borders of Sylhet have been put on high alert after India published the final NRC in Assam, stripping 1.9 million people of citizenship.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), along with police have beefed up their surveillance at the border areas on Saturday.
Police stations and border outposts are on alert in Kanaighat, Zakiganj, and Bianibazar Upazila in Sylhet.
Superintendent of Police of Sylhet district Mohammad Farid Uddin said, "India's Assam issue is not likely to affect the Sylhet border areas but the police are still on alert."
Sylhet-based BGB 19 battalion chief Lt Col Syed Hossain said that they are prepared to tackle any untoward incident at the border.
"Although the list is for Assam, all the borders under battalion 19 have been instructed to remain on high alert. The locals of those areas have also been notified," he said.
However, the situation is currently peaceful, Hossain said.
"BGB has been asked to be more vigilant keeping Assam in mind. We are also monitoring whether the situation deteriorates in Assam," he added.