Illegals, airport security come up in discussions

Visiting British Immigration Minister at the Home Office James Brokenshire yesterday held discussions with high government officials on shared priority issues including illegal immigration, organised crime, violent extremism, radicalisation and airport security.

Diplomatic sources said Brokenshire talked to the home and foreign ministers over ways to send back Bangladeshis whose visas and passports have expired.

Bangladesh gave a time-bound action plan for improvements after several countries, including the US, UK and Japan, raised questions and concerns about the security in international airports, they added.

Last year, the British government provided some  equipment to immigration officers of Special Branch at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to detect and prosecute use of false and counterfeit travel documents.

Arriving around 9:30am on a 24-hour visit, Brokenshire held meetings with Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque. He is scheduled to leave this morning. His visit is the first by an immigration minister of the recently elected government, said a press release.