Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar issued the following statement on April 20 strongly condemning and protesting the incident of uniformed and armed Arakan Army violating the sovereign border of Bangladesh on April 16 and 17.

“We strongly condemn and protest the incident of the Arakan Army, armed with uniforms and weapons, violating the sovereign borders of Bangladesh on April 16 and 17, infiltrating 10 km inside Bangladesh in the Remakri Mukh area of Tindu Union in Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban district and celebrating the Jal Keli festival with local tribes. They did not stop at just celebrating the Jal Keli festival; they shared the video of the festival on their social media accounts. The political wing of the Arakan Army, ‘ULA’ and the local people participated in the festival. By infiltrating 10 kilometers inside the borders of Bangladesh and taking part in the celebration, they basically showed their damn care attitude to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. This incident is a serious threat to our independence and sovereignty and it is really worrying.

The question of the conscious countrymen is, how did they dare to infiltrate Bangladesh? What were our government, BGB and armed forces doing at that time? This is an extreme failure for the current government and Bangladesh Army. Such Indifference is a grave threat to national security. The countrymen want to know the clear statement of the current government and the military on this matter.

We strongly demand from the government to take appropriate action against the audacious and illegal activities of the Arakan Army in the Chittagong Hill Tracts areas including Bandarban.”