Awami League's overseas activities under surveillance: Press Secretary

The interim government is closely monitoring the activities of the banned Awami League outside the country, said Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday, Alam addressed reports that the Awami League has set up an office in Kolkata. In response to questions regarding a BBC report on the issue, he stated, “The Awami League’s activities are banned in Bangladesh. We are, of course, monitoring what they are doing abroad.”

On the upcoming national election, Alam said body cameras are being procured to ensure security during the voting process.

The press briefing was held ahead of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s official visit to Malaysia. Shah Asif Rahman, Director General (Public Diplomacy) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared details of the three-day visit, scheduled to begin on Monday.

The Chief Adviser is visiting Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who visited Bangladesh in October last year. A bilateral meeting is set to take place in Putrajaya on Tuesday, and five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the trip.

Key issues on the agenda include Rohingya repatriation, expansion of the labour market, sustainable use of deep-sea resources, agricultural cooperation, and strengthening bilateral trade. The Chief Adviser may also meet with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Advisers on foreign affairs, energy, and law—Md. Touhid Hossain, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, and Asif Nazrul—are expected to accompany the Chief Adviser during the visit.