United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged the Special Security Force (SSF) to ensure that security arrangements do not isolate him from ordinary citizens, saying public trust and love remain his greatest source of strength. “As the head of government, my greatest reliance is on the trust and love of the people. Therefore, I urge you, as a sophisticated force, to ensure that the security cordon does not push the head of government away from the people,” he said, while speaking at a programme marking the 40th anniversary of the SSF at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon. The Prime Minister said the security environment has changed significantly since the force was established four decades ago, with socio-economic, political and geopolitical developments, along with rapid technological advancement, creating multidimensional security challenges. He stressed the need for SSF personnel to remain prepared through modern and up-to-date training, saying there is no room for a specialised force to lag behind in courage, skills, strategy or technology. Referring to the BNP government's assumption of office following the February 12 general election, Tarique Rahman said the SSF has been providing comprehensive security for the head of government since the new administration took office on February 17. He noted that he reduced the size of his motorcade to lessen public inconvenience and ensure smoother traffic movement, which has required the SSF to place greater emphasis on efficiency and security strategies rather than expanding manpower. “As the head of a democratic government, I frequently attend public rallies and state programmes both in Dhaka and remote areas of the country. Ensuring security amid large public gatherings is a difficult task,” the Prime Minister said. He said the SSF must maintain a delicate balance between protecting the head of government and ensuring the comfort and convenience of citizens, adding that the force's professionalism is reflected in how effectively it manages such situations. Tarique Rahman also inaugurated a newly built state-of-the-art firing range for the SSF and observed a demonstration exercise. He expressed hope that the facility will contribute to enhancing the force's professional capabilities and help members further improve their operational skills. Highlighting institutional reforms, he said the SSF's "Red Book" has been revised and modernised for the first time since 2002 to meet contemporary requirements. The updated manual not only provides operational guidelines but also strengthens the legal framework governing the force's activities. The Prime Minister said SSF members must strictly adhere to the principles, including maintaining the “chain of command”, while also being capable of making prompt decisions based on changing circumstances. He underscored the importance of professionalism, integrity, loyalty, discipline and adherence to the chain of command. Tarique Rahman also stressed that ensuring the security of the head of state, head of government and other state-designated important persons is closely linked to national security, requiring close coordination among security forces, intelligence agencies and relevant government institutions. He assured the force that the government will continue taking all necessary measures to further strengthen its professional capabilities in line with evolving global standards. The Prime Minister also urged SSF members to treat citizens with respect while performing their duties. “While giving the highest priority to the security of important personalities, you must ensure that ordinary people are not subjected to any form of misconduct,” he said. Expressing confidence in the force, Tarique Rahman called on its members to remain committed to patriotism, democratic values and the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out their responsibilities. He thanked the SSF for carrying out its duties with utmost sincerity and professionalism to ensure the security of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia while she was in office and most recently while she was undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital during the final days of her life. “Following Begum Khaleda Zia’s passing, the SSF also played a significant role as the principal coordinating body in organising one of the largest funeral prayers (Janaza) in the history of not only Bangladesh but also the world. On behalf of myself and my family, I once again express my heartfelt thanks to the SSF,” the Prime Minister said. He also extended his greetings to all those who have been associated with the SSF, as well as those who are currently serving with dedication, on the occasion of the founding anniversary. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Defence Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Quartermaster General (QMG) of Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Md Shaheenul Haque, Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Md Mainur Rahman, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, among others, were present.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken comprehensive and coordinated security measures for Eid-ul-Fitr congregations across the capital and no specific threat has been detected. Acting DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar made the remarks on Thursday while briefing reporters after inspecting security arrangements at the National Eidgah. A total of 1,771 Eid congregations are set to be held at 121 Eidgahs and 1,599 mosques in Dhaka, he said. He said the main congregation at the National Eidgah Maidan will begin at 8:30am where over 35,000 devotees are expected to offer prayers. Five congregations will also be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, with the first starting at 7:00am. In addition, the Dhaka North City Corporation will organise an Eid congregation at the old Trade Fair ground in Agargaon.  Besides three congregations will be held in Dhaka on Friday following Eid celebration in Saudi Arabia, while eight other congregations will be arranged by the Shia community on the the same day. Sarwar said DMP has adopted coordinated and comprehensive security measures for all Eid congregations, including at the National Eidgah and Baitul Mukarram mosque. Responding to a query on security concerns, he said there is no threat but intelligence agencies remain active and will inform law enforcement agency if any issue arises, ensuring preparedness to tackle any situation. He added that multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place at the National Eidgah, including archways and metal detectors at entry points, along with CCTV surveillance across the venue and surrounding area. Barricades will be set up at Matsya Bhaban, Jatiya Press Club and Shikkha Bhaban area to restrict vehicular movement, allowing only pedestrians to access the Eidgah. Police patrol will be active around the venue, and all attendees must enter through designated gates. The area will also be swept by CTTC dog squads and Special Branch teams, while DMP’s bomb disposal unit will remain on standby. Members of SWAT, DB in plain clothes and CTTC will be deployed to ensure an additional security tiers. Coordination with other law enforcement agencies will be maintained, while fire service units and emergency medical teams will remain ready. On traffic management, the acting DMP commissioner said diversions will be in place at Zero Point crossing, Government Employees Hospital, High Court crossing, Press Club link road, Foreign Ministry rear lane, Paltan crossing, Police Control Room gap and Matsya Bhaban crossing. Devotees will have to walk from these points to reach the Eidgah. He urged the city dwellers not to bring bags or any items to the venue and to cooperate with security checks. Any suspicious activity should be reported to nearby police or by calling 999. Sarwar also said adequate police will be deployed across the capital during Eid, including deployment of traffic sergeants to prevent over speeding on city roads.

The Bangladesh government has officially confirmed that the national cricket team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing ‘genuine security risks' amidst a volatile regional political climate. The announcement made by the Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, on Thursday, effectively defies the ultimatum set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) just a day earlier. Speaking to the media, the Sports Adviser made it clear that the safety of the delegation is non-negotiable. “Bangladesh is not travelling to India to play the World Cup due to the security risk—this is a decision made by the Bangladesh government. No other entity has any rights to take this decision,” he said. Read more: Travel to India for T20 World Cup or be replaced: ICC warns Bangladesh This statement overrides the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) attempts to negotiate and directly challenges the ICC's insistence on the original schedule. Addressing the potential financial and sporting repercussions of a boycott, the Adviser argued that national dignity and human safety carry a higher value. He urged the public and media to consider the alternative cost of capitulation. “You should also consider what the damage would be if we played the World Cup,” he said. “Pushing our players, fans, and journalists into a genuine risk amidst this regional political situation, with our heads bowed down... is a damage that must be weighed.” Despite the ICC's vote on Wednesday to replace Bangladesh with Scotland if they refuse to travel, the government remains hopeful for a last-minute diplomatic solution involving a venue change. Read more: India wins T20 series against New Zealand by 48 runs The Adviser insisted that the demand to play in Sri Lanka is valid and rooted in history. “We still hope the ICC will do justice,” he said. “There are many precedents in the world where matches are played at a different venue due to security risks. We have not given up hope yet.”

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday (January 19, 2026) said some 8,97,117 members of law enforcement agencies will be deployed during the national election to ensure security. The adviser disclosed the information while talking to reporters after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Secretariat. A total of 42,761 polling centres will be set up for the election. Of them, 8,780 centres have been identified as highly risky while 16,548 as risky and 17,433 as general centres, he said. Some 25,000 body-worn cameras will be used at highly vulnerable and risky polling centres, while preparations are underway to install CCTV cameras at every polling centre, said the adviser. Read more: EC unveils fresh roadmap for Feb-12 election To maintain law and order during the election, forces will be deployed across the country in two phases. The deployment in the first phase will continue as it is. In the second phase, deployment will be based at polling centers for seven days from February 8 to 14, he said. The overall security coordination will remain under the supervision of the respective returning officers, Jahangir Alam added.Alongside the police, Ansar and VDP members, Army, Navy, Air Force, BGB, Coast Guard and RAB members under ‘in aid to civil power’ will be deployed during the election. Besides, law-and-order coordination cells will be formed at both central and local levels with members from police, BGB, RAB, Coast Guard and members of armed forces ahead of the election, he said. Special teams will be formed under the national emergency service number 999 and linked to the coordination cells. All complaints received will be forwarded immediately to the Home Ministry and the relevant local coordination cells, he said. Noting that law enforcement personnel are being trained for election duty for the first time, the adviser said the training will be completed by January 20. To strengthen surveillance, 418 drones will be used during the election, operated jointly by the Army, Navy, Police, BGB, Coast Guard, RAB and Ansar. Dog squads of different forces will also be deployed. Read more: Police must remain 100% neutral during elections: Home Adviser Besides, ‘Surokkha’ app, developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), will play the most effective role in election security management. Through the app, law and order-related complaints will be received instantly and prompt action will be taken, said the adviser. The government has taken a decision to use Air force helicopters to transport ballots and election materials to the remote and char areas, he said. Beside, instructions have been given to quickly arrest those who tried to obstruct the election, while intensive patrolling will be carried out across the country for four days ahead of the polls, said Jahangir. Referring to the progress of Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, the adviser said 19,854 people were arrested between December 13 and January 17. Read more: EC set to sit with political parties Tuesday over postal ballots During this period, 346 firearms, 2,191 rounds of bullets, 722 cartridges and a large quantity of illegal arms and explosives were recovered, he said. Any attempt to obstruct the election or deteriorate the law and order situation will be dealt with strictly, he said.

The government on Wednesday said it remains hopeful of a smooth transition through the national election but wants to prevent the arrival of any “unexpected individuals” from abroad who may attempt to create an undesirable situation during the election period. “We are not stopping the issuance of visas. Those who wish to come may apply for visas, and we will issue them as long as their purpose is valid,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to a journalist’s query regarding reports of the suspension of visa-on-arrival facilities. “You know, during the election period, there may be attempts to create unexpected situations. Some unwanted individuals may try to enter the country suddenly,” he said. The Foreign Adviser said the Ministry of Home Affairs is truly better positioned to comment on the matter but acknowledged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received instructions in this regard. Read more: Bangladesh issues special visa guidelines ahead of national election  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Bhutan on Tuesday informed the general public that the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Thimphu has officially conveyed that the government of Bangladesh has suspended the “Visa on Arrival” facility for all eligible countries, including Bhutan, with effect from January 15 to February 15. In view of this, Bhutan said, all Bhutanese nationals intending to travel to Bangladesh during the above period are advised to apply for a visa in advance through the Embassy of Bangladesh in Thimphu prior to their travel. The Bhutanese Ministry advised all travelers to take note of this change and make the necessary arrangements well in advance to avoid any inconvenience. Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain on January 8 confirmed that they have asked its three key diplomatic missions in India to keep their visa sections closed for a time being on security grounds. “What I have done is that I have asked our three missions to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It’s a security issue,” he said while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time. Read more: Foreign Adviser communicates with Pakistani counterpart ahead of OIC ministerial meet on Somalia Asked about the matter, Hossain on Wednesday had taken the decision due to a special situation, noting that they have to look after the security of the missions.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Saturday (January 10, 2026) said police personnel deployed at high-risk polling centres during the next national election will be equipped with body-worn cameras to help prevent violence and ensure transparency. “There are around 24,000 risky polling centers across the country. Police personnel assigned to these centers will be provided with body-worn cameras so that no violence or chaos can occur. Through these cameras, everything can be monitored,” he said. The IGP made the remarks after attending a special welfare meeting with police officers and members of various units of the Rangpur Metropolitan Police and district police in the afternoon. The IGP also sought cooperation from the public in carrying out police duties effectively. EC to start disposing appeals against decisions on nomination papers Referring to the flow of arms, he said illegal weapons are being seized gradually, although it is not possible to recover all of them at once. Baharul Alam said police personnel across the Rangpur division remain fully committed to ensuring a free, fair, and festive election, noting that the Election Commission has taken initiatives to conduct the polls peacefully. “It is our responsibility to maintain stability and create a suitable environment for the elections. All members of the Rangpur Range and Rangpur Metropolitan Police are determined to ensure full security,” he added. He further said the police will not be working alone during the election. On polling day, around six lakh Ansar members will be deployed alongside police forces. In the pre-election period, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other defense forces are also assisting law enforcement. 645 appeals filed with EC against decisions on nomination papers Besides, the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Navy are working in coastal areas to control criminal activities. Rangpur Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aminul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Majid Ali, superintendents of police from eight districts of the division, and other senior police officials were present at the event.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday (January 08, 2026) confirmed that they have asked its three key diplomatic missions in India to keep their visa sections closed for a time being on security grounds. “What I have done is that I have asked our three missions to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It’s a security issue,” he said while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Though he did not mention the names of the missions, a diplomatic source said the three missions are Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and Bangladesh Assistant High Commission Agartala. There are Bangladesh Missions stationed in Mumbai and Chennai, too. Read more: Delhi summons Bangladesh envoy amid growing tensions Responding to a question on cricketers’ safety issue, the Foreign Adviser said he fully supports what Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul had said. Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reaffirmed on Wednesday that Bangladesh will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, reiterating the nation’s demand to have their matches relocated to co-host Sri Lanka. Speaking to the media following a meeting with directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Asif Nazrul said while the nation is eager to participate it cannot be at the expense of national dignity or player safety. “We have discussed the situation. The Bangladesh team played hard and fought to qualify for the T20 World Cup, and as a cricket-crazy nation, we certainly want to play in the World Cup,” he said. “We will certainly play outside India,” said Foreign Adviser Hossain. Asked about the impact of this in bilateral relations, the Foreign Adviser said this issue came afresh though at various times various issues came and each issue will have negative impacts to some extent. Read more: Bangladesh voices concern to India over attacks on missions Talking about keeping business relations unhurt, the Adviser said if they find their interest in purchasing rice at a cheaper price, the business people will go for that. Asked about Bangladesh’s ‘potential interest’ in procuring the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, the Foreign Adviser said, “I can’t tell about this today. Talks are underway. You will know once things are finalised.”

Security has been tightened at key points along the Dhaka-Aricha highway, including Zia Udyan and the Savar National Memorial, ahead of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s scheduled visit to the area. A sufficient number of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order, said Shariful Islam, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of BGB headquarters. According to the programme, following Jumma prayers, Tarique Rahman will visit the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman. 

The interim government of Bangladesh has assigned gunmen to 20 individuals who were on hit lists and facing security risks, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday (December 22, 2025). “Those who are on hit lists or concerned about their security have already been given gunmen,” he told reporters after a meeting on the law and order situation. When journalists raised a list suggesting around 50 members of Gono Odhikar Parishad are at risk, the adviser said, “The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Special Branch (SB) have jointly identified those at security risk and prepared a list. Gunmen have been provided accordingly.” Read more: Law and order must be maintained before election: Prof Yunus While some individuals declined gunmen for personal reasons, the intelligence agencies are ensuring necessary security measures considering the risks, he added. “The intelligence agencies are continuously monitoring to maintain normal law and order and prevent any possible attacks,” the adviser said, adding that more people might be brought under security if necessary.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the law and order situation must be maintained at any cost before the upcoming national election.  The meeting, held on Sunday afternoon (December 21, 2025), discussed in detail various issues, including the return of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to the country, security measures taken on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. Prof Yunus ordered the prompt arrest of those involved in the murder of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi and other illegal activities. The issues were discussed at a meeting held at state guest house Jamuna on Sunday afternoon with Prof Yunus in the chair. The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in the country. Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, National Security Advisor Dr Khalilur Rahman and top officials of various security and law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting, said Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Monday. Editors’ Council, NOAB condemn arson attacks on Prothom Alo, Daily Star. Besides, the arrest of those involved in the murder of Inqilab Mancho spokesperson and July fighter Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi and the progress of the investigation were discussed in detail. The police informed the Chief Adviser that 31 people have already been identified through video footage on suspicion of being involved in the recent attacks on the offices of two national dailies and two cultural organizations. At least six people have been arrested in various parts of the country, including Dhaka, in these incidents till Monday morning. The arrestees are Md Kashem Farooqui, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naeem, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shafiqul Islam. Mob incited by Elias Hossain sets fire to Daily Star office in Dhaka The operation to arrest the remaining identified suspects is underway. In addition, three of those who tried to create chaos near the residence of the Assistant High Commissioner of India in Chattogram have been identified through video footage.