Bangladesh's ports open to all: Home adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury affirmed Bangladesh's commitment to maintaining open access to its ports, emphasising inclusivity and economic necessity.

"We will keep the ports open for all. Will only ships from one country come? Are we prisoners of someone? We will not limit ourselves to serving only them," he said in an oblique reference to Indian media roar on arrival of a Pakistani ship to Chattogram Port during a press briefing at the Chittagong Metropolitan Police Media Center on Tuesday (November 19).  

The adviser highlighted the importance of facilitating trade, especially ahead of Ramadan. "Dates, onions, potatoes—these are essential during Ramadan. Will we stop them from coming? Those who trade these goods are not our enemies," he said, dismissing any notion of restricting port access based on geopolitical influences.  

The adviser expressed concern over what he described as a trend of "fake cases" being filed across the country. "Most of these cases are fabricated. Previously, the police used to list 10 names and 50 anonymous accused. Now, even the public is following that pattern," he remarked, urging greater scrutiny and fairness in legal proceedings.  

He also criticised foreign media, particularly from neighbouring countries, for spreading what he called "propaganda" about Bangladesh. "Falsehoods are being circulated in their media. Can you [journalists] counter these lies? If I say something, you might not believe me," he said, appealing to local journalists to provide accurate information to combat misinformation.  

Jahangir Alam acknowledged improvements in law enforcement but noted there is still room for progress. "The law and order situation in Chittagong is fair, but not completely satisfactory. For example, this year’s Puja celebrations were peaceful, but it wasn’t highlighted enough in the media," he said.  

On the performance of the police, he added, "Morale has improved compared to before. It’s a slow process; you can’t expect change overnight. It’s not magic. But the graph is trending upwards, which is a positive sign."  

Addressing issues within law enforcement, he declared that police officers who have not reported for duty are considered "criminals in the eyes of the law." He urged journalists to assist in identifying such individuals, saying, "If you can find them, I will ensure they are brought to justice."  

In response to allegations that the government and parts of the administration are fuelling unrest in the country, he pointed to external factors, specifically neighbouring countries. "You investigate and report. We are not harming anyone, but provocation from neighbouring countries is evident," he said, iterating Bangladesh's stance on maintaining stability.