United News of Bangladesh

The government of Bangladesh is ready to provide any support needed for BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s security, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Tuesday (December 02). Talking to reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law and order at the Secretariat, the adviser said there had been no discussion at the meeting on Tarique Rahman’s return. Read more: Govt declares Khaleda Zia a ‘very very important person’ Asked whether the Home Ministry has made preparations to ensure Tarique’s security, the adviser said, “We are ready for everyone. The Home Ministry is prepared for all, and for those who need special security… whatever special arrangements are required, we are ready to provide them.” No one in Bangladesh faces any security threat, he added. Read more: No specific information over Tarique’s return, says Foreign Adviser

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday said the audio clip circulated on social media in the name of Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury involving Gono Parishad Odhikar leader Nurul Haque Nur is ‘fake or AI-generated’. The fabricated 25-second audio clip shared from multiple accounts including one named ‘Ismail Chowdhury Samrat’ attempted to show the adviser instructing an anonymous police officer regarding Nur, said a statement of the Home Ministry. The ministry clarified that the voice in the clip does not belong to the adviser but is an artificially generated or distorted version. Anyone familiar with the adviser’s voice can easily understand that it is not his voice, the statement said. The ministry said such false and misleading content misinforms the public, spreads rumours and undermines social order and the rule of law. The Ministry of Home Affairs strongly protests the creation and circulation of such fabricated audio recordings and the responsible people will be brought under strict legal action, it said. The ministry also cautioned against making or spreading any fake audio or content on social media and warned that legal action will be taken against those involved in such activities.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred 16 senior officials of Bangladesh Police, including five additional deputy inspectors general (Additional DIGs), 10 superintendents of police (SPs) and one additional superintendent of police. The Public Security Division of the ministry issued a notification on Wednesday regarding this. According to the notification, among the Additional DIGs, one has been posted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), while the Additional DIG of Rajshahi has been transferred to Sylhet Range. Police killed 52 people at Jatrabari in Dhaka on Aug 5: BBC report An official from the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) has been moved to the Police Headquarters, another from Police Headquarters to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Headquarters and one from the Special Branch (SB) has been transferred to the Traffic Division in Dhaka, it said.  

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said the Home Ministry is fully prepared to maintain law and order during the upcoming national election, regardless of the date set by the Chief Adviser. “Minor incidents may happen during elections. However, such occurrences should not be used to claim that there is no level playing field,” the adviser said while talking to reporters after visiting the Rapid Action Battalion-1 (RAB-1) Headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka. Referring to the overall law-and-order situation in the country, he said it has significantly improved compared to the past. “This Eid-ul-Azha saw no major incidents, apart from some petty thefts and snatching,” he added. On the issue of traffic congestion during Eid travel and in general, the adviser noted: “Ideally, a country should have 20 percent road coverage, whereas we have only 7 percent. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles is rising daily, making traffic management a major challenge.”  Election possible before Ramadan: Prof Yunus tells Tarique Earlier in the day, during a visit to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Headquarters in Uttara, the adviser addressed the issue of arming the police. “Different units of the police force have different needs in terms of weapons. Armed Police require different equipment than the River Police or the Industrial Police. Weapons will be supplied based on specific demands,” he said. The adviser, however, clarified that the government would refrain from supplying heavy arms to regular police forces.

The government is actively working to implement the rightful demands of workers including the garment workers as the government is sincere about their demands, according to a statement of the Home Affairs Ministry.“The government is highly sincere and agreed to the rightful demands of due wages and benefits of workers including garment workers and other industrial sectors, and it is actively working to implement these demands and is making all-out efforts in this regard. Instructions have been given to factory owners and the BGMEA. Their activities are being monitored," it said.However, creating unrest in the garment industry under the pretext of unfair or unreasonable demands, blocking roads to halt vehicular movement and engaging in anarchy and violence are not acceptable under any circumstances and will not be tolerate, it said. Home adviser pays tributes at Razarbagh Police Memorial The government will take strict action against such activities, it added. To maintain stable and secure environment in garment and other industrial sectors and maintain law and order in the country the government seeks the cooperation of both factory owners and workers, the statement reads.

Molla Nazrul Islam, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police and former superintendent of Sylhet Police Abdul Mannan have been suspended.The Public Security Division of the Home Ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard on Monday.Molla Nazrul, a former commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), is now attached to Rajshahi Sarda Police Academy.According to the notification, DIG Molla Nazrul Islam was arrested on February 9 and produced before a court. HRW asks ICC to suspend Afghanistan's membershipSP Abdul Mannan was attached to the Rangpur Range DIG office after his arrest on February 9, according to another notification. Later, he was sent to jail after being produced before a court in Sylhet.Both of them were suspended as per Section 39(2) of the Government Service Act, 2018.

Followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi will be allowed to participate in the second phase of Biswa Ijtema from February 14 to 16 at Tongi, on condition of refraining from organising any Tabligh activities or arranging the event in 2026. The Public Security Division of the Home Ministry issued a notice in this regard on Tuesday.According to the notice, Maulana Saad’s followers can hold the second phase of Biswa Ijtema as scheduled on February 14-16 but must vacate the Ijtema ground to the local administration after Maghrib prayers on February 18. 1st phase of Biswa Ijtema underway in Tongi The venue will then be transferred to the Shura-e-Nizam (followers of Maulana Zubair) on February 20. The first phase of Ijtema, organised by Maulana Zubair’s followers, took place from January 31 to February 2. They are scheduled to return the Ijtema ground to the local administration on February 6.Four people were killed and 40 were injured in a clash between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi on December 18, 2024. Fire Service strengthens safety measures at Ijtema ground On December 19, Maulana Zubair's follower M Alam Hossain filed a murder case against 29 people at the Tongi West Police Station naming Wasiful Islam as the main accused.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has reiterated its warning to foreign nationals residing illegally in Bangladesh, urging them to regularise their status within the stipulated timeframe. It said that failure to comply will result in legal actions under the Foreigners Act, 1946. This announcement was made in a media release issued on Tuesday, signed by Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. The warning states, "It is hereby brought to the notice of all concerned that numerous foreign nationals are residing and/or working illegally in Bangladesh. In this regard, those foreign nationals residing or working in Bangladesh without proper authorisation are hereby notified to regularise their status by obtaining the necessary documents by 31 January 2025, as per the previously issued warning. Failing to do so will result in actions being taken against them under the Foreigners Act, 1946." Appellate Division upholds HC's dismissal of 5 labour cases against Dr Yunus This is not the first time the government has issued such a notice. Over the years, the authorities have been striving to bring undocumented foreign nationals under legal purview to ensure compliance with immigration laws. The ministry has urged foreign nationals to act promptly to avoid punitive measures, emphasising the government's commitment to maintaining law and order.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred 50 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and 24 Additional Superintendents of Police. Three notifications were issued in this regard from the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday. Ambassador-designate Mushfiqul eyes stronger trade ties with Mexico Deputy Secretary M Mahbubur Rahman signed the notification by order of the President. In one notification, 19 officers, in another notification, 31 officers of the Superintendent of Police rank, and in a separate notification, 24 officers of the Additional Superintendent of Police rank were transferred to different units. Appointment of 6 members of BPSC cancelled Transferred officers have been posted to various units including DMP, Police Headquarters, CID, SB, RAB, PBI, APBn, CMP, RMP, and BMP.

The Home Ministry has provided Tk 5 lakh in financial assistance to the family of firefighter Md. Sohanur Zaman Nayan, who died after being struck by a truck while on duty during a fire at the Secretariat. Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General(retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury handed over the cash assistance to Nayan’s father Md. Akhtaruzzaman at his office at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon. E-passport implementation to be completed by year-end: Home Adviser Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Nasimul Gani, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department Brigadier General Zahed Kamal, Nayan’s  sister Seema Akhthar and other family members, were present. Earlier, on December 26, Nayan’s family received Tk 1 lakh in assistance along with Tk 50,000 for burial expenses from the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department. BRDB to be upgraded to directorate: Adviser Asif Mahmud Firefighter Nayan died after being hit by a truck while crossing the road in the fire team's desperate bid to douse the midnight fire at a  Secretariat building on December 26. He was a firefighter stationed at Tejgaon Fire Station.