In a recent meeting at the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s office, Home Advisor retired Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam disclosed that traders are required to pay taxes to the Arakan Army while crossing the Naf River border with goods from Myanmar. The initial tax payment is made to the Myanmar government in Sittwe, followed by an additional tax to the Arakan Army at the border.
Md. Jahangir Alam emphasized the necessity for Bangladesh to maintain communication with the Myanmar government in both official and unofficial capacities, given the current border situation.
Addressing the increasing rate of abductions in Cox’s Bazar, Md. Jahangir Alam mentioned that the shelter provided to 1.2 million Rohingyas has led to a rise in criminal activities, including kidnappings. He highlighted the urgency of repatriating the Rohingyas to their homeland to mitigate these issues. “The faster we can repatriate the Rohingyas, the better it will be for us. They are increasing the problems. We are making efforts to send them back as soon as possible,” he stated.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the armed forces, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar, Directorate of Prisons, Fire Service and Civil Defense Directorate, Immigration and Passport Directorate, Department of Narcotics Control, and various offices and agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture.