If the internal situation in Bangladesh is not resolved, not only this region, but everyone will be affected, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain.

He said this at the roundtable meeting titled 'Responsibility of Reforms and Roadmap for Elections' of the Forum for Bangladesh Studies on Unity, Reforms and Elections at the Khamarbari Krishibid Institute in the capital on Saturday (December 28).

Towhid Hossain said that only when a democratic state is established will the interests and rights of the people be established. Therefore, all political parties must work in agreement for the country's interests.

On the issue of Bangladesh's current relations with the outside world, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said, we have to maintain good relations with India, the United States and China. We have to maintain friendly relations with everyone.

At this time, he said that almost 100 percent of the Myanmar border has been taken over by the Arakan Army. In such a situation, there is no talk of the return of the Rohingyas. Therefore, there is no possibility of sending the Rohingyas back in the next two to six months.

Referring to the meeting with several countries including Myanmar in Bangkok, he said that the Rohingyas were not among the topics discussed in that meeting. The emphasis was on the Rohingya issue from Bangladesh because if this problem is not resolved, everyone will be affected.

He also said that it is very important for a political party to come to power. Many times they deviate from the basic principles. It is the responsibility of the people to ensure that the parties do not deviate from them. Although it is always said that the country is bigger than the party, in reality the opposite picture is seen, he also commented.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan has commented that collective effort is needed to preserve the victory of students and the public.

He said this at the roundtable meeting titled ‘Responsibility of Reforms and Roadmap for Elections’ of the Forum for Bangladesh Studies on Unity, Reforms and Elections at the Khamarbari Krishibid Institute in the capital on Saturday (December 28).

Nazrul Islam Khan said, “We always say, we want good, we want better. Our desire to get is endless. Almighty Allah has given us the opportunity to maintain the victory of the mass uprising. But if we do what we want, we will lose everything and regret it. Therefore, collective effort is needed to maintain the victory.”

Stating that administrative officials have created a ‘chaotic’ situation across the country with various demands, he said, “Now is not the time for complaints. Now is the time for cooperation. No political party or social organization can do everything alone. We have to cooperate with each other.”

Even though the people's victories in the language movement of 1952, the great liberation war of 1971, and the anti-Ershad uprising of 1990 have been defeated by political reality, the victory of the anti-fascist uprising of 2004 cannot be allowed to be nullified, he said.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said, "I have participated in many movements and struggles throughout my life. Even after winning, I have repeatedly lost. I have won many victories, but I could not sustain them. Now the question arises, can we sustain the sacrifices of those who have been martyred in the long-standing democratic movement; who have been subjected to torture, oppression, and disappeared; or who have given their lives and become disabled in the mass uprising of 2004?"

He said, "Among the various reform processes in the country, the administrative, political, and social spheres are now full of demands. Political analysts have commented that this has created an unstable situation in the country."

Many people commented at the meeting that the unity that had been built among the political parties in the country to topple the Awami League government had been eroded. Senior politician Nazrul Islam Khan said, "We have differences on various issues. This is necessary for the health of democracy." The seminar, moderated by Daily Ittefaq's executive editor Saleh Uddin, featured the following as discussants: Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, Labor and Employment of the interim government; Subrata Chowdhury, co-chairman of Gono Forum; Rashed Al Titumir, professor and economist at Dhaka University; Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age; Advocate Hasnat Qayyum, coordinator of the State Reform Movement; Abul Hasan Rubel, executive coordinator of the Gono Sanghati Andolon; Sarwar Tushar, executive member of the National Citizens' Committee; Habibur Rahman Habib, member of the Research Cell; Mawlana Gazi Ataur Rahman, leader of the Islamic Shasantantra Movement; and lyricist Shahidullah Faraji.

The center of South Asia is no longer the 'Himalayas', but the 'Bay of Bengal', said Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir of the Department of Development Studies of Dhaka University.

He said this at a national dialogue titled 'Unity, Reform and Election' organized by the 'Forum for Bangladesh Studies' at the Krishibid Institute in Khamarbari in the capital on Saturday (December 28).

Professor Titumir said that the government can create an environment through which the political government can lead South Asia in the future. The center of South Asia is no longer the Himalayas, but the Bay of Bengal. An environment must be created to lead it.

Commenting on the changing nature of international geopolitics, Professor Titumir said that the biggest change will happen in 2025. There will be a change from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. There is no leader in this region who can lead nationally in the current situation in the Bay of Bengal. We may have new neighbors, new states may emerge. Therefore, such a situation should be created that Bangladesh will lead internationally geopolitically in South Asia.

He said that instead of opposing reforms and elections, we should move towards minimum unity. Beyond this, since politics is transitional, there will be no unity at all.

Stating that the economy is in a recession, he said that there is no talk about economic production. In fact, it will not work in the IMF way, nor any other way. If we work in the domestic way, we can create examples. But overall reforms cannot be carried out. The government should have only one goal, to create examples. Four to five examples should be created.

He commented that it is the responsibility of the NBR to find out where the sponsors of the 12 banks recently approved in Bangladesh got their sponsorship from.

Present at the event, moderated by Daily Ittefaq's Executive Editor Saleh Uddin, were Shipping Adviser Brigadier (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Gono Forum Co-Chairman Subrata Chowdhury, National Citizens Committee's Sarwar Tushar, lyricist Shahidullah Faraji, among others.

Indian police have handed over militant Rahmatullah, an accused in a murder case, along with 6 illegal immigrants, to Benapole.

On Friday (December 27), the Petrapole Immigration Police handed them over to the Benapole Immigration Police in Jashore at 6 pm.

Militant Rahmatullah is the son of the late Siddique Mia of Farajkandi village of Narayanganj Port Police Station.

Russel Mia, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Benapole Port Police Station, said that militant Rahmatullah was one of the accused in the anti-terrorism case at the DMP's Darus Salam Police Station on April 2, 2012 and at the Trishal Police Station in Mymensingh on February 23, 2014. After the incident of killing the police in a militant kidnapping, he fled to India. Later, he was arrested by the police on charges of illegal entry and was in jail.

After investigating the information of the Home Ministry, the Bangladesh government confirmed the detention of militant Rahmatullah in India. Later, he was brought back with a special travel permit from the governments of the two countries. Militant Rahmatullah will be handed over to the police of the concerned police station.

In addition, 5 fishermen and a woman who were detained for entering the Indian border while fishing will be handed over to an NGO, the OC said.