Tools seized in Ukhia part of support to hosts: IOM

After a safety review by the local authorities, the International Organisation for Migration yesterday clarified that it donated the tools recovered from an NGO’s storage depot in Ukhia.

“The tools are part of household kits given to vulnerable members of the host community for agricultural and livelihood activities,” said an IOM press release.

Earlier on Thursday, 5,000 tools were recovered from the depot in Ukhia upaizla’s Malbhitapara area.

A team, led by Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (land) Fakhrul Islam, conducted a drive at the depot, and recovered the locally-made tools kept in 20/25 sacks.

The IOM said an alarm was raised on social media that farming tools were potential weapons distributed to refugees.

In fact, the items were farming tool kits being stored at SHED office for distribution to the Bangladeshi host community, said the UN agency.

The authorities gave back the tools to the NGO after checking all the documents, it added.