Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan
Training academy to be established for fire service men: Minister
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Fire Academy will be established in Gazaria of Munshiganj district to ensure modern training facilities for the fire service men, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday.
“Already the acquisition work of 100.92 acres of land in Gazaria is at final stage and 1000 members of fire services will get training at the academy at a time,” he said talking at a programe on the occasion of Fire Service and Civil Defense Week held at Mirpur Fire Service Training complex in the city.
The government has sent 1,169 members of fire service abroad for training purpose and once the new academy is opened we will be able to provide training to the members of fire service here, said Asaduzzaman.
Read: Trying our best to execute jail killing case verdict: Home Minister
Currently, the Fire Service and Civil Defense has the capability to conduct rescue operation in 20-storey buildings and the government is trying to strengthen the capability of fire service like those in developed countries , he added.
Besides, the number of ambulances has been increased to 190 from the existing 63 and steps will be taken to provide ambulances to all fire service stations, said the Minister.
The government also procured some equipment for extinguishing fire and conducting rescue operation like remote control firefighting units and drone which are used in developed countries.
Alongside increasing the capability of the organization, the government is working to ensure all facilities for the staff and employees of the organization.
There are some 456 fire service stations across the country and some 109 more will be built within the next fiscal year, said Asaduzzaman.
Read: Names of puja violence instigators to be disclosed soon: Home Minister
Besides, the construction work of 11 modern fire stations in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Chattogram industrial area and Rooppur Power Plant area is underway.
Talking about the manpower of the fire service, the Minister said currently13,400 members are working and a project has been taken to increase its manpower to 25,000.
Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla incident: Home Minister
Several people involved in the Cumilla incident have been identified and some suspected instigators detained, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday.
“We’ll hunt down those involved in the incident. We’ve identified some of them and they’ll be held without any delay,” he said.
The home minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with senior officials of the police, BGB and Rab.
Read:Cumilla incident: DIG says offenders to be hunted down
“We’re investigating the incident. We’ll let you know after the investigation. So far, it appears to us that it’s a motivated act planned by a vested group,” he said.
Some of the suspects have been detained in Cumilla and they are being interrogated, he added.
Amid the escalating tension over the Cumilla incident, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in 22 districts, including Chattogram, Cumilla, Narsingdi and Munshiganj districts to assist the civil administration.
The BGB troops have been deployed following the demand of local administrations and as per the directives of the Home Ministry to ensure security during the ongoing Durga Puja celebrations across the country, said BGB Director (operation) Lt Col Foyjur Rahman.
Read:Cumilla incident: BGB troops deployed in 22 districts
Earlier, eight platoons of BGB members were deployed in different parts of Chattogram district to maintain law and order in the wake of tension triggered by desecration of holy Quran in Cumilla.
The BGB troops were deployed around 9 pm on Wednesday and they will remain out there till October 16, said deputy commissioner of Chattogram Mominur Rahman.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when the Hindu devotees are celebrating Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Process underway to extend time length of Khaleda’s conditional release: Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said the process to extend the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's sentences in two graft cases is underway. “We’ve received an application and it has been sent to the Law Ministry following the procedure, and now the process is underway as per the Law Ministry’s opinion,” he said while speaking at the Secretariat. On September 12, Law Minister Anisul Huq said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia must return to jail for submitting a fresh application to seek permission to go abroad for treatment.
Read:Khaleda must return to jail for seeking permission to go abroad: Law Minister Talking to UNB, Anisul also said his ministry has already given an opinion for extending further by six months the suspension of Khaleda’s jail sentences following an application submitted by her family to the government. “There’s no scope to reconsider the application seeking permission to send Khaleda Zia abroad under section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). She has to go back to jail and then submit a fresh application if she wants to go abroad for treatment,” the minister said. He, however, said it does not mean that the application will be approved once Khaleda submits it to the government. “It depends on the government's wishes.” Meanwhile, the family of Khaleda Zia recently submitted an application to the Home Ministry seeking further extension of her conditional release and allowing her to go abroad for receiving advanced treatment.
Read:Khaleda’s family seeks permission again to send her abroad The Home Ministry sent the application to the Law Ministry a few days back seeking its legal opinion. The Law Ministry gave its opinion on September 7 and sent it back to the Home Ministry which is supposed to be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval.
Saudi Arabia won't send back Rohingyas to Bangladesh: Shahriar
The Saudi government did not say that the Rohingyas, living in Saudi Arabia, will be sent back to Bangladesh, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Wednesday.
Govt helping militants to get back normal life: Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said the government not only contained militancy but also working to bring the militants to normal life.
Govt working for overall welfare of BGB: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday hopes that steps taken for the welfare of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members give more impetus for its operational activities and help it achieve greater success.
Home Minister tests negative for Covid-19 again
The fourth Covid-19 test of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who is now in isolation, has come out negative.
Home Minister in isolation after testing Covid negative
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has remained in self-isolation after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 in one test and negative in another.
“Despite getting a negative Covid report, the minister remains in isolation and is doing well,” said the ministry’s Public Relations Officer Sharif Mahmud.
Asaduzzaman tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. He went to the DMFR Molecular Lab & Diagnostics in Dhanmondi on Monday for test again but the report came out negative.
Meanwhile, Senior Secretary of the ministry's Public Security Department Mustafa Kamal Uddin was also diagnosed with Covid-19.
Ex-law secy Abul Saleh dies of Covid-19
Former Law Secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Zahirul Haque Dulal died of Covid-19 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Wednesday night.
Coronavirus: Home Minister wishes early recovery of Amit Shah
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has expressed deep concern over the hospitalisation of his Indian counterpart Amit Shah after he tested positive for coronavirus.