http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/jan/03/03012004ts.htm#A1
The Independent, 3 January 2004
STAFF REPORTER
Bangladesh has launched an intensified campaign to weed out all armed terrorists irrespective of their nationality, in the border areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts and in greater Sylhet district. Official sources said the current campaign was part of continuing government operation against armed terrorists, and has led to discovery of huge catche of arms and arrest of armed miscreants.
The six armed terrorists arrested in Habiganj on Thursday alongiwth weapons are believed to be Indian nationals belonging to a rebel group of Tripura state of India.
The sources said the arrested people would be charged under the Foreigners Act with illegally entering Bangladesh and carrying unauthorised weapons.
Drive against terrorists is on in Bandarban following find of huge catche of sophisticated arms on Thursday. Regular anti-terrorism activities in Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar have also been beefed up, the sources said.
Meanwhile state minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar has dismissed reports that the latest operation had been launched at the request of India.
According to a BBC bulletin monitored here yesterday, the state minister said, "It is not that we will launch operation if there is a request and refrain from doing so if there is no request. It is our government’s own stand. It is not for the first time that such operation has been launched. A few days ago an operation was launched in Moulavibazar and several terrorists were held during that drive. Terrorists have been captured in Bandarban and Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar as well. It is not a matter of request; it is the stand of the government to flush out terrorists."
The minister said the operation against insurgents along the frontier with India would continue.
"If Indian insurgents are held during this operation they will be tried according to the law of the land.
The state minister rejected Indian allegation that northeastern insurgent groups had set up camps in Bangladesh.
"Indian insurgents have no camps in Bangladesh. We will not allow anyone to carry out terrorist activity from our territory," the state minister categorically said.
Lutfuzzaman Babar told the BBC, the operation was directed against local and foreign terrorists.
"In the past, arms were seized in Bandarban, Moulvibazar, CHT, Sylhet and Jamalpur areas. It is the stand of the present government to eliminate local or foreign terrorists or terrorist groups," Babar added.
"We have heard that several Indian armed persons have been held, we are examining the matter and trying to ascertain their identity," he added.