The government announced that Mozaffar Hossain, a former army major, who was arrested recently for his alleged involvement in the 1981 assassination of former president Ziaur Rahman, will face a military tribunal. The announcement came with tough new orders for the country’s border forces to heavily secure dangerous parts of the nation’s borders.
Speaking during a visit to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters at Pilkhana on Monday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed explained the legal choice. The minister stated that the government will not reopen the old civilian police case that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigated.
The law states that a person cannot be tried twice under two different laws for the exact same crime. Since the other people accused in the assassination case were tried years ago under military law through a general court martial, the captured suspect has been handed over directly to the military. The army will now set up a military court under its own rules to handle the trial.
Keeping the borders safe amid the Myanmar conflict
This major legal update comes at a time when Bangladesh faces growing trouble along its eastern border. Speaking to senior officers at the Shaheed Shakil Ahmed Hall—with remote border posts joining the meeting online—Salahuddin Ahmed ordered the BGB to stay highly alert to stop illegal entry, human trafficking, and weapons smuggling.
The minister admitted that the border with Myanmar is currently very unsafe because of the ongoing war between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar government military. The situation is worsened by the presence of other armed groups, such as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). Frequent gun battles and drug smuggling in the area mean this border needs a strong barbed-wire fence, making it very different from the more peaceful border with India.
To protect local citizens from hidden dangers near the border line, the minister confirmed that the government has already bought advanced landmine detection tools and handed them over to BGB field units.
Modern tools and smart border plans
The meeting, which was also attended by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, highlighted a new plan to use modern tools to protect the country. The home minister said that modern border management cannot just rely on soldiers walking the line; it also needs advanced surveillance technology and smart intelligence work.
Along with their defence duties, the minister reminded the guards to stay disciplined, follow orders from senior officers, and ignore fake news or online rumours. He also noted that the force must build good, trusting relationships with people living in border villages and help out quickly during natural disasters. After the meeting, the home minister paid his respects at the 2009 Martyrs’ Memorial before finishing his visit at the Pilkhana base.
