A significant number of Awami League leaders and activists have still managed to escape across the border, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chief Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said today (3 October), acknowledging the agency’s failure in preventing those accused of crimes during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
“But the agency should not be solely held accountable for the situation,” the BGB director general said at a press conference held at the BGB headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday.
He said the BGB has so far held 22 people identified as opponents of the anti-discrimination student movement. “Despite these arrests, a significant number of Awami League leaders and activists have still managed to escape across borders,” General Siddiqui recognised.
He said while the BGB bears responsibility for the fleeing incidents, it is critical to determine whether other entities should also be held accountable.
“An investigation is necessary to ascertain who crossed which border—there can be no compromises on this matter,” he emphasised.
The DG said that a request had been made on August 6 to aid the BGB in curbing escapes through border, an initiative that was undertaken independently and without any external directive. “We have been working on this continuously. If all organisations that collect intelligence share their information, our efforts would be far more effective,” he said.
He also referred to speculations that a large number of Awami League leaders and activists had already fled the country. “Did everyone flee? I don’t think so. Some are still hiding in this densely populated country,” he asserted.
Major General Siddiqui urged journalists to assist the BGB by sharing any relevant information they might have. “You also have information. Please share it with the BGB, and we will take action. We are committed to preventing these escapes,” he said.
The BGB DG reiterated that the BGB is dedicated to fulfilling its role in safeguarding the borders and that all stakeholders must collaborate to address the ongoing issue effectively.
