Govt to prepare transparent policy to avoid harassment at airports

The government will prepare a transparent policy so that no one is harassed while departing airports and returning home, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today.

"In many cases, banks request to halt someone going abroad. In many cases, there are court orders to this end. That's why the issue will be brought under transparent policy ," he told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy this evening.

Alam said the issue of restricting someone going abroad will be brought under a specific policy in consultation with authorities concerned, including intelligence agencies.

Speaking at the press briefing, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said the ousted government sent a list of people with dissent opinions and politicians to the immigration office asking the authorities concerned to halt them from going abroad and returning home.

Mentioning the recent incident of the harassment of New Age editor Nurul Kabir at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he said the government is aware.

The long-list is manually being updated to prevent passenger harassment at airports, he added.

Replying to a query, Azad said the government formed a new Election Commission (EC) following the law and the President appointed the chief election commissioner and other commissioners as the power bestowed upon him.

Responding to another query, he said the government is trying its best to prevent rumours and sought cooperation from all, mentioning that it is very difficult for the government to fight rumours alone.

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir was also present at the press briefing.