Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)
Dec 10 rally venue: 2-member BNP delegation to meet DMP commissioner
A two-member BNP delegation is going to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner's office to try to end the impasse over the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and law affairs secretary Kayser Kamal will go to DMP office at 2pm to finalise the venue for the rally on Saturday.
Read more: BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
BNP sources said their party is now thinking of holding the rally at Dhalpur ground while the government is willing to permit holding it at Mirpur Bangla College.
The delegation will talk to the DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq seeking permission to hold the rally at Dhalpur ground or any other ground in Dhaka south city.
To decide their next course of action regarding the detention of two top leaders of the party by detectives, the leaders of the BNP standing committee have sat for an online meeting that started at 11:40am.
Meanwhile, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the most senior member of the BNP's standing committee, will address a conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office at 3pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening the BNP office at Nayapaltan.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
Read more: Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension
Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.
With only 24 hours left of the Dhaka rally on December 10, it becomes totally uncertain to hold the rally at the designated timeframe as the venue has not finalised yet as well as the detention of the party's two top leaders.
5 senior police officials transferred
Five senior officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have been transferred and given new postings.
The DMP headquarter issued a notification signed by DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam on Wednesday in this regard.
According to the notification, DMP’s Additional Police Commissioner (Detective Branch) AKM Hafeez Aktar has been made Additional Police Commissioner (Crime & Operations) while Joint Commissioner of Police (Cyber and Special Crime and DB-North) Mohammad Harun Or Rashid made Additional Police Commissioner (Detective Branch) of DMP.
Read:Intensify searching in hotels, messes to prevent subversive acts: DMP commissioner
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic-South) Syed Nurul Islam has been made Additional Police Commissioner (Logistics Finance & Procurement).
Besides, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Munibur Rahman (current charge) and Additional Police Commissioner (Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime) Md Asaduzzaman (current charge) have been given new postings.
The order will be effective from their joining dates, it added.
Gang of bandits nabbed by DB
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested four members of an inter-district bandit gang, including Master Aslam, from Mirpur embankment under Shah Ali Police Station in the capital on Saturday night. The detectives also recovered one Hayes microbus, one foreign made pistol, two sharp weapons, two sticks and three looted private cars from their possession.
Also read: 44 mugging, dope gang members held in Dhaka: Rab
The arrestees were identified as Master of the gang Md. Aslamul Haque alias Aslam, Maqbool Hossain Prakash alias Mangal Hossain Babu, Md. Rafiqul Islam and Md. Hasan Hawlader. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Center on Sunday, Joint Commissioner (Cyber and Special Crimes and DB-North) of the DMP Mohammad Harun Aur Rashid said that Tejgaon Zonal team of DB (Tejgaon division) conducted a drive at Mirpur embankment and arrested the four bandits. They also recovered the Hayes microbus, one foreign made pistol, two sharp weapons, two sticks and three looted private cars from their possessions. About the tactics of the arrested bandits, Joint Commissioner Harun, who has been promoted to the rank of DIG, said they (bandits) basically give signal in front of the freight truck with laser lights. When the truck driver stopped the truck thinking it as a police signal, they fled with the truck, taking the driver and helper hostage at gunpoint, he said. During primary interrogation, the arrested bandits also revealed that their group leader is the most wanted robber of the present time, Aslamul Haque alias Aslam. The other robbers in the group call him Master, he said. Led by Aslam, they divided into different groups and carried out robberies in Chapainawabganj, Natore, Naogaon, Bogra, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Tangail, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Manikganj, Dhaka, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Faridpur and Joshore.
Also read: Fake medicine gang busted by DB; 20 lakh pieces seized Later, they (bandits) left them in a secluded place on the way and resorted to looting paddy, rice, cows, fish food etc, which were carried by truck. The robbers then took the truck and robbed somewhere else. They also admitted that they had gathered at the embankment area on the day of the arrest to rob a moving truck. Two separate cases have been filed with concerned police stations against the arrested under the Preparation for Robbery and Arms Act at DMP's Shahali Police Station
DMP takes steps to ensure security at Ekushey book fair
Adequate measures have been taken to ensure foolproof security ahead of Ekushey Book Fair, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam.
“Book fair is a festival like Pahela Baishakh and ensuring security at the fair is one of the biggest responsibilities of DMP,” he said while talking to reporters over the overall security measures at Suhrawardy Uddyan on Sunday.
Read: Ekushey book fair extension depends on Covid situation: Khalid
This year security will be tightened at book fair premises, Shaheed Minar to Shahbag and Nilkhet and primary checking teams will be deployed in the areas, said the DMP Boss.
No vehicles will be allowed at book fair premises and there will be six entrances, he said adding everyone should enter the fair venue through the archway after metal detector checking.
ATM card cloning scam busted
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested two members of an international ATM card cloning scam syndicate, including its kingpin, who escaped from Indian police custody.
The arrests were made n a special drive in Gulshan area in the city here on Tuesday.
Read:Hard-and-soft approach needed to counter terrorism: CTTC chief
The arrestees were identified as Hakan Zanburkan and Md. Mofiul Islam. A total of 17 cards including 15 clone cards, five mobile phone sets and one laptop were seized from their possessions.
Briefing reporters at DMP media cente on Wednesday, the CTTC Chief Additional Commissioner of the DMP Md. Asaduzzaman said that the arrested Hakan is a citizen of Turkey. He is one of the masterminds of the international ATM card cloning scam.
He has been trying to attempt at least 84 times to withdraw money from various booths of Eastern Bank Ltd through cloning credit cards of foreign citizens of 40 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, USA, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Germany, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Canada, Bolivia, Spain, Finland and Norway from January 2 to January 4 this year, the CTTC unit chief added.
Eastern Bank Ltd prevented hacking attempt by hackers as it detected the matter through alarm system by using anti-scamming technology, the CTTC unit chief said.
The top official of the CTTC said Hakan was arrested along with another Turkish national and two Bangladeshis in an ATM scam case at the Paltanbazar police station in the Indian state of Assam in 2019. In the incident, they along with Mr. HAKAN embezzled around Rs 10 lakh using cloning cards from various ATM booths in India.
Read: CTTC chief seeks media’s constructive role to end militancy
Hakan managed to escape from the police custody while taking treatment at GB Pant Hospital (GBP HOSPITAL) in Agartala while undergoing treatment in India for about 20 months. Later, with the help of an Indian man, he reached Nepal via Sikkim paying two lakh rupees. From there, he collected travel documents and return to his home country.
He visited Bangladesh several times before. The last time Hakan came back to Bangladesh was on 31st December 2021. He stayed at The Capital Hotel in the capital.
No outdoor celebration on 31st night: DMP
Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Shafiqul Islam on Thursday said no outdoor celebration will be allowed on the 31st night like previous years.
“No one can even apply for holding events outdoors. Besides, those hotels who have applied to us will be allowed to hold programmes but those must be held as per our culture. No DJ party will be allowed,” the DMP commissioner said.
Read: Victory Day programmes: DMP commissioner stresses onus on security
Wishing the city dwellers a Happy New Year, the Commissioner said this at a press conference held at the DMP Media Centre in the afternoon.
He said although there is no threat centering the New Year celebrations, the members of the Counter Terrorism Unit and the detectives will be on high alert all over Dhaka.
The DMP has taken special security measures in several areas, including Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, Banani and Gulshan, on the eve of English New Year.
The DMP Commissioner said outsiders and vehicles will not be allowed to enter the Dhaka University campus after 8 pm. Vehicles of teachers, officers and employees residing in the residential areas of Dhaka University will be able to enter through Shahbagh Crossing subject to identification after the stipulated time.
“We’ll have a security cordon all around the university area. Anyone who wants to enter the area can do it with permission from the university authorities,” he added.
The Commissioner said the same guidelines are applicable for Hatirjheel and Banani and Gulshan areas. No one will be able to stay at Hatirjheel after 8 pm. Even bikes will not be allowed to enter.
No one except the residents of Gulshan area will be allowed to enter the area, he added.
Read: Tenure of DMP Commissioner extends for another year
All bars will remain closed from the morning of December 31 to January 1, the Commissioner added.
Earlier, the government urged people to celebrate the 31st night on the eve of New Year on a very limited scale due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a press release issued by the Home Ministry on December 14.
DMP asks HSC examinees to leave home early for exams Wednesday
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has requested the HSC examinees to leave homes early on Wednesday to arrive early at exam centres.
DMP has imposed restrictions on many roads in different parts of the city for ensuring the safe movement of the guests who are scheduled to come to Bangladesh on Wednesday.
DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said this at a press briefing over the law-and-order situation, held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban on Tuesday.
Read: 54 arrested in DMP’s anti-narcotics drives
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the Victory Day celebrations here on December 16 apart from his other key engagements.
President Kovind will be visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid.
“Vehicular movements will be restricted on many roads on Wednesday due to the arrival of the Indian President. So, HSC examinees have been requested to leave their homes early. If any HSC examinee will face any trouble to reach their exam centers in time, he/she has been requested to make a phone call to 999 for help. Police will take steps to reach them in their respective exam centers,” he said.
Besides, a four-tier security measures have been taken in the city marking the Victory Day and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said.
All venues will be swept with SB, SSF, Rab and DMP dog squads.
Plainclothes police will be deployed in the high-rise buildings adjacent to the Parliament and its surrounding area.
Besides, the bomb disposal unit and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) will kept ready for emergency service, he added.
Bangladesh is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The three-day programme will begin on December 15. The programmes will be arranged maintaining health protocol amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Read:Almost 14,000 people arrested in DMP’s special anti-narcotics drive in 8 months
Foreign guests of seven countries will participate in the programme at Parade Square ground.
Answering a question about any threat over security, the DMP Commissioner, said “There is no specific threat but we have taken additional security measurers after keeping the global situation and internal issues in mind.”
In a query over any possible militant activities, Shafiqul said “The militants are always active and they do not want to lose any scope. So, we have made our plan after keeping it in our mind.”
Feni, Rangpur SPs among 7 police officers get transferred
Seven police officers, including Superintendents of Police of Feni and Rangpur districts, have been transferred.
The Public Safety Division of the Home Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Monday.
Read:Three senior police officers transferred to new postings
According to the notification, Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Superintendent of Police of Rangpur district, has been made Deputy Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) while Md Ferdous Ali, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Superintendent of Police in Rangpur.
Besides, Khandaker Nurnnabi, Superintendent of Police of Feni District, has been made Assistant Inspector General of Police, while Assistant Inspector General of Police Md Abdullah Al Mamun has been made Superintendent of Police of Feni district.
Read: Reshuffle in DMP once again: 8 OCs transferred
Deputy Commissioner of Police of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Bijoy Basak has been made Superintendent of Police at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Dhaka while Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Sanjay Sarkar has been made Superintendent of Police of Range DIG’s Office in Chattogram and Assistant Inspector General of Police Md Sohail Rana has been made Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP).
Fake drug manufacturing unit busted in Dhaka, 7 held
Police on Friday claimed to have busted a factory producing counterfeit drugs in the capital.
Seven people have also been arrested from Kajla, Arambagh and Mitford areas of the city during a raid by the Lalbagh detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), officials said.
The arrestees have been identified as Tariqul Islam, Sayed Al Mamun, Saidul Islam, Monwar, Abdul Latif, Nazmul Dhali and Sagar Ahmed Milon.
Read: Banned Indian drugs worth Tk 30 lakh seized at Benapole
"During the drive, 700 boxes of ACME-brand medicine Monas, 50 boxes of Square company’s Seclo, 748 boxes of Jenith's Naproxen-plus and a number of other fake medicines, and dices and boxes, have been seized from the possession of the arrestees," said Additional Commissioner of DB, AKM Hafiz Akter.
Tariqul Islam and Sayed Al Mamun had set up the illegal factory, where Saidul Islam was the main manufacturer and Monwar and Abdul Latif were working as his assistants, said AC Hafiz.
After manufacturing, Nazmul Dhali used to distribute the counterfeit medicines in the market through some groups in the Mitford area, he said.
Lockdown or no lockdown, life is the same in Dhaka
Amid growing calls for stronger measures to stop the spread of Delta variant, the government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and extended it several times. But the question is whether there is any lockdown in capital Dhaka as everything looks normal?
“This lockdown seems to be pointless when people are allowed to move as they wish. What we really need are clear rules about the lockdown and its genuine enforcement,” said a retired engineer wishing anonymity.
Read:Lockdown breaches: 342 arrested in Dhaka on day 16
The movement of people and vehicles increased significantly on the 15th day of lockdown on Sunday as many people are coming out of their houses for various reasons.
Some people are going outside for vaccination as mass vaccination programme began in the country on Saturday while many more for other reasons as export-oriented factories were opened on August 1.
It is only the shopping malls and eateries that remained closed and public transport stayed off roads as per lockdown rules.
During visits to different areas of the city, the UNB correspondent saw roads were filled with private vehicles and rickshaws as usual.
In some cases, traffic police were seen handling the pressure of vehicles on roads. Besides, the pressure of vehicles was largely seen in Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Satrasta, Uttara, New Market, Mirpur, Asad Gate, Banani, Gabtoli and Technical points. The searching and checking of people and vehicles at different points of the capital also continued, though loosely.
Read:Bustling Dhaka finally feels ‘lockdown silence’
Traffic Inspector Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali), said, “The number of vehicles is higher than the previous days and we’re handling traffic manually at Mohakhali and Amtola point.”