11 Jan 2009

Indicating stricter measures to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said nationals from that country have no business to be in India without permission and that there is no reason why a large number of visas are being issued to them every month. Mr.Chidambaram, who has been taking a close look at the security set up in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, voiced concern over the existing monitoring system to check whether a Bangladeshi coming to India has returned to his country after expiry of his visa or stayed on. Noting that illegal immigration was causing unexpected demographic changes in Assam and West Bengal, he told a TV channel that he is now looking into what is happening on Indo Bangladesh borders and passport control points. He said that he thought that India issues a very large number of visas to Bangladeshis every month.
Mr Chidambaram said porous borders and illegal immigration
were causing unexpected demographic changes and a lot of angst among the native population in Assam and West Bengal.
In a separate incident,the USA has moved to confiscate nearly $3 million from a Singapore bank account of Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for being allegedly linked to a bribery scandal in Bangladesh. Acting Assistant Attorney, General Matthew Friedrich said in Washington the Justice department sought a forfeiture action on Thursday against the accounts that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members, in connection with various public works projects. The complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Koko, in connection with public works projects awarded by Bangladesh government to Siemens AG and China Harbour Engineering Company.
Koko was arrested in Bangladesh along with his mother Khaleda Zia on 3rd September, 2007 after a bribery case had been filed by the country’s Anti-corruption Commission. He was, however, later released on parole on grounds of ill health, and is now reportedly undergoing treatment in Bangkok. With the help from Singapore government, the Commission unearthed information that Koko has 20.61 lakh Singaporean dollars and 2.61 lakh US dollars. The Singapore government froze the account and sent necessary documents to the Commission recently.

Related posts:

1. Government to issue multipurpose identity cards:Chidambaram New Delhi, Feb 24 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram...
2. Bangladesh mutiny an internal matter: India New Delhi, Feb 26 (ANI): Terming the ongoing mutiny by...
3. Centre to issue multi-purpose Identity Cards to people residing in coastal areas Centre has decided to issue multi-purpose Identity cards to...
4. NDA proposes to make multi-purpose ID cards mandatory New Delhi, Mar. 14 (ANI): BJP leader L K Advani...
5. Bangladesh mutiny hits trade, movement across India-Bangladesh border Akhaura (Tripura), Feb 27 (ANI): Border trade in Tripura has...