The newly appointed director general (DG) of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Maj. Gen. Abul Hossain, said the border force will never allow any Rohingya influx into Bangladesh. He said this while speaking to The Independent after telling the media about an alert on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to prevent infiltration of Myanmar citizens known as 'Rohingyas'. "At present, 'Rohingyas' present an international issue. Myanmar citizens staying in different camps of Bangladesh are a burden on us. So, we have taken steps to prevent them from entering Bangladesh," he told The Independent in an interview at the BGB headquarters in Peelkhana in the capital yesterday.
"We know that there are some Rohingya people, who entered the country, are committing crimes and other terrorist acts. That is why we will never allow any more to enter," the BGB chief said. A number of Rohingyas tried to cross over to Bangladesh in the wake of a latest army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims living in the Rakhine state of Myanma, which has claimed at least 150 lives so far. On Saturday, the Bangladesh Coast Guard sent back at least 125 of them to Myanmar. The BGB chief said ensuring secure borders with the neighbouring countries such as Myanmar and India was the main challenge before him. "My main task and main prime challenge is to protect the borders, and I will try to fulfil both, while you should cooperate with us,” he added.
 Abul Hossain said they were working with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to bring down border killings to zero. He also said the BGB was planning to soon install scanners at border points to prevent the smugglings of drugs, arms, and other contraband items from the neighbouring country.
 The BGB chief expressed his concern over the smuggling of yaba tablets from India. He said that both the BGB and the BSF had seized yaba tablets at border points. Hossain also said they would start a joint effort with the BSF to put an end to piracy and other crimes along river routes in the Sundarbans.  “We have a plan to set up more floating border outposts to ensure security along the river borders,” the BGB chief added. Currently, there are just two such outposts.  “Relations between the BGB and the BSF are friendly, and we are guarding our border coordinating with our counterpart,” he said.  About the proposed short stay visa to be issued to the border people of the friendly country, the BGB chief said the matter had been discussed and should be introduced soon.