Former Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Lieutenant General (retd.) Md. Moinul Islam, was stopped at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday (Dec 24) while attempting to travel to Canada.

Moinul Islam was scheduled to board Emirates Airlines flight EK-587, heading to Toronto via Dubai.

An official from the airport said that his flight was set to depart at 6:45 PM. However, when he approached the immigration counter for clearance, the immigration officials sought permission from an intelligence agency, which denied clearance. As a result, Moinul was barred from boarding the flight and is currently in the airport lounge.

No further details have been disclosed regarding his detention or any formal arrest.

Moinul Islam became the BGB DG following the 2009 BDR mutiny, which claimed 74 lives, including 57 army officers. During his tenure, the force`s name was changed from Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

He served as Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division in 2015 before retiring from the military in February 2016.