The Bangladesh government has decided not to allow fugitive preacher Zakir Naik to enter the country. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs, considering crowd control and security arrangements. This move is being seen as a diplomatic success for India.
Bangladesh: The effect of diplomatic pressure from India is now clearly visible. Bangladesh's interim government has decided not to allow fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to enter the country. This decision indicates that Bangladesh does not want to provide refuge to anyone against whom serious allegations exist or whose presence could affect its internal order. India had long been demanding action against Zakir Naik, and this move is being seen as a diplomatic success for India.
Decision Taken at Home Ministry Meeting
The Bangladesh government's decision was not taken suddenly but was finalized after an important formal meeting. This meeting was held in the Ministry of Home Affairs' conference room located in the Secretariat. The law and order situation was discussed, and during this, the issue of Zakir Naik's potential visit was also raised. Officials and committee members present at the meeting assessed the situation and considered that if Zakir Naik were to visit Bangladesh, there would likely be large crowds at his gatherings and events. A large deployment of security forces would be required to control these crowds.
Concerns Over Crowd Control
Reports presented during the meeting indicated that Zakir Naik's presence could lead to a large number of people gathering in one place, making the situation difficult to manage. Currently, the deployment of security forces is also necessary in several other areas of Bangladesh, making it impossible to allocate such a large number of forces to specific events.
Considering this practical situation, it was decided that Zakir Naik would not be allowed to enter the country.
Claim by Event Organizers
Meanwhile, a company named Spark Event Management claimed through its Facebook post that it was planning to bring Zakir Naik to Bangladesh by the end of November. The company identified itself as the authorized organizer of the event and claimed that it was being held with the permission of the Bangladesh government. However, following the government's decision, it has become clear that this event will not proceed as planned.
Meeting Chairmanship and Situation Assessment
This key meeting on law and order was chaired by Lieutenant General (Retired) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Advisor for Home Affairs. During the meeting, officials analyzed the potential challenges Bangladesh could face if Zakir Naik were to enter the country. These challenges included security arrangements, crowd control, and the impact on the social environment.
Bangladesh's Clear Stance on Foreign Policy
The Bangladesh government also stated that it is not in favor of sheltering any accused or fugitive individual. SM Mahbubul Alam, spokesperson for Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that they have taken note of the statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs, which raised questions about Zakir Naik's potential visit. He also clarified that Bangladesh's policy is clear: it will not provide easy asylum to any fugitive citizen of another country.
