Staff Correspondent:

Bangladesh’s biggest challenge at present is corruption, and the country will only make progress once it is eliminated, according to Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

He made the remarks to the media following a programme celebrating the 30th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Coast Guard Day-2025 on Monday.

Home Secretary Nasimul Ghani and other senior government officials were also present at the event.

After giving his formal speech, the home advisor took questions from reporters.

“Corruption has overwhelmed us everywhere. We must see how corruption can be reduced. If corruption can be eradicated, there will be progress in all sectors. If we are corrupt, then we should expose it.”

In response to another question, he said: “Corruption has come down a lot in the last six months during this government. Even then, it has not reached a tolerable level. Corruption needs to be reduced further.”

In response to a question on the presence of the Arakan Army in Bangladesh, the home advisor said: “The belt [between Myanmar and Bangladesh] is now under the control of the Arakan Army. This area is not under the control of the Myanmar government.”

Despite various challenges, the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh are successfully performing their duties, he noted.

“The entire border area is under our complete control, there is no problem.”

Asked whether the lifting of police verification could clear a way for Rohingya refugees to get passports easily, Jahangir said: “We had a long-standing notion of lifting police verification. It saves people from suffering. Police verification will not be required for those who have national identity cards. Measures will be taken to ensure that the Rohingya do not get national ID cards.”

Asked whether many Rohingya refugees had already secured NIDs, the home advisor said: “Those who have received them will be scrutinised. If anyone has received them, we do not know the number.”

One reporter referred to recent incidents at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair and a flower shop outside Dhaka, which have been attributed to Touhidi Janata groups, and asked why Operation Devil Hunt had not rounded up the perpetrators.

In response, Jahangir said: “We can control all mobs. Not just one type of mob, but different types of mobs are creating different types of problems. It is our responsibility to control all these mobs. You should also look into why some people are forming mobs.”

Calling on everyone to be vigilant, he said: “We have to love our country and work for our country. We must look towards the country’s interests instead of our personal interests.”

The home advisor was also questioned about the lack of action against corrupt police personnel.

He said, “In our 53 years as a nation, when has so much action been taken against police personnel under the law as it is now?”

Noting that action is being taken wherever possible, Jahangir said, “Sometimes it takes time to investigate. Sometimes, the allegations are found to be true and at other times, they are found to be motivated reports.”