KNF received weapons from criminals of surrounding countries: FM

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) has contact with the criminals of the surrounding countries and received weapons from them.

“A crackdown has been launched against them, the bank manager has already been rescued. The government is determined to eliminate them (KNF),” he said.

The foreign minister made the comments at a meeting in Chittagong on Saturday.

Asked how far the talks on the release of sailors of MV Abdullah have progressed, the minister said: "All-out efforts are being made. Talks are going on with the abductors. The sailors are fine. They have no problem with food, they are in their cabins.”

The minister added that an exact date cannot be mentioned when they will be able to rescue the sailors but the Somalian pirates are being pressured.

“Those who work on ships do not have any leave before and after Eid. Usually, they stay for six months to a year. It is unlikely the sailors would have come to their families before Eid if this ship had not been hijacked,” he added.

Describing BNP as monsters, the Awami League joint general secretary said the party burns people how monsters burn people in horror movies.

"Tarique Zia is enough to destroy BNP. No one else is needed,” he added.

On Friday, armed men reportedly attacked a checkpost in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban.

This follows incidents of robbery, abduction, and a clash between the KNF and law enforcement in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas over recent days.

The separatist group had also kidnapped the Sonali Bank’s Ruma upazila branch manager on Tuesday, and tried to loot Tk1.5 crore from the vault of the Ruma branch. 

Unable to take the money, they kidnapped the bank manager, who was rescued later.

They also carried out robberies at Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank branches in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban on Wednesday.