Photo: Collected
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said an initiative has been taken to build and modernise 108 kilometres of border fencing on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border as part of anti-narcotics efforts. On the overall situation in the country, he said, ‘The law and order situation across the country is under control. Law enforcement agencies are determined to prevent any kind of sabotage and terrorism.’
He said this at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the home ministry of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today (Sunday). Committee chairman Zainul Abedin presided over the meeting.
Committee members Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, parliamentary whips Rakibul Islam and Mia Nuruddin Ahammed Apu, and MPs Md Kamruzzaman, Monowar Hossain and Shirin Sultana took part in the meeting.
Chairman Zainul Abedin stressed identifying where drugs are being produced and who is supplying and smuggling them, and taking legal action to eliminate these sources. He also recommended an investigation into the financial networks behind the drug trade and the flow of criminal proceeds.
In the view of whip Rakibul Islam, ‘The use of state-of-the-art technology at the border must be ensured, as in developed countries, and the effective use of drone surveillance must be increased.’
Another whip, Mia Nuruddin Ahammed Apu, was unwilling to see the issue as the job of any single agency. He said, ‘Above all, a social revolution is needed to control drug use. This is not just the work or responsibility of a ministry or any single force; rather, it is a coordinated national responsibility.’
The meeting recommended swiftly ensuring the necessary financial allocation to eliminate drug-related crimes and taking necessary measures in this regard.
The meeting also reviewed in detail the identification of risky border areas and routes through which drugs enter the country. Aspects of coordinated surveillance, drives and effective preventive measures by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Coast Guard, police and the Department of Narcotics Control to prevent smuggling were also examined closely.
The senior secretary of the home ministry, the Inspector General of Police, director generals of departments under the ministry, heads of the agencies concerned and other senior officials, as well as officials concerned of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat, were present at the meeting.
Background
According to a Risingbd report, the home minister told Parliament on 17 June that an initiative had been taken to build a barbed-wire fence on the Myanmar border to curb cross-border crimes including border killings, infiltration, drugs, and arms and ammunition. A plan to fence sensitive spots on the border with India was also under consideration at the time.
A Desh Rupantor report of 20 June said that even 55 years after independence, Bangladesh has not put up any barbed-wire fence on its own border, whereas India has fenced off 93 per cent of its border with Bangladesh.
Sources
Background sources: Risingbd, June 2026; Desh Rupantor, 20 June 2026
