Watch towers, CCTVs to be installed to monitor Rohingyas: Mozammel

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque today said fence, watchtowers and CCTVs (Closed Circuit Television Cameras) will be installed to beef up surveillance in and around the camps of Rohingyas to check criminal activities.

"We will set up 24 watchtowers, construct fence and install CCTVs to monitors activities in Rohingya camps round-the-clock," he told journalists after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order at the home ministry conference room.

Mozammel said the meeting has decided to construct fence along with setting up CCTVs and watchtowers aimed at controlling drugs smuggling, as a section of Rohingyas engaged in such activities.

"The meeting also agreed to continue anti-drug operations and identify patrons of drug smuggling to bring them to book. Measures are underway to update the existing Narcotics Control Act-2018 to ensure visible punishment for smugglers," he said.

The minister said a committee will be formed to coordinate all reports prepared by intelligence agencies on various issues.

Replying to a question, he said the meeting has given authority to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for constituting the committee.

The minister said the law and order situation in the country is under control. The meeting decided to bring more than 500 foreign nationals, staying in Bangladesh without legal documents, in a camp and deport them to their origin countries, he added.

"We have asked National Board of Revenue (NBR) to enquire about payment mode against foreign advertisements," he said.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will check internet based televisions and channels whether they maintain licenses or permissions from authorities concerned and offices in Bangladesh, Mozammel said.

The meeting asked law enforcement agencies to find culprits behind the attack on UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) Wahida Khanam through in-depth investigation.

"We have also decided to bring upazila complex under security and CCTVs surveillance," the minister added.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, and officials concerned joined the meeting.

Law Minister Anisul Haq, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmood Chowdhury, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian joined the meeting virtually.