United News of Bangladesh

Police have taken special security measures ahead of the twin celebrations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. A meeting on security and law and order was held at the Hall of Pride of Police Headquarters on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), chaired by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bangladesh Baharul Alam, ahead of the Christmas celebration on December 25 and the New Year’s Eve on December 31. Welcoming leaders of the Christian community, the IGP said Christmas is a universal festival and emphasized that the police would remain alert throughout the celebrations. He expressed hope that, with the capabilities of the Bangladesh Police, both Christmas and New Year’s Eve would be celebrated in a peaceful environment. Read more: Missing Guns: Can Bangladesh’s arms crackdown ensure peaceful polls? Authorities warned that any individual or group attempting to disrupt communal harmony by posting misleading content, comments, or images on social media during the festive period would face immediate legal action. Cyber monitoring will be strengthened to prevent the spread of rumors. The meeting urged concerned parties to recruit volunteers, arrange adequate lighting, standby generators or chargers, and ensure the security of churches across the country in coordination with law enforcement agencies. Security will also be heightened in all tourist areas, including Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata, during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Authorities said action would be taken against anyone who honks loudly or drives recklessly on the roads. People are urged to contact the National Emergency Service 999 or their nearest beat police officer in case of any emergency. During the meeting, Christian community leaders expressed satisfaction with the security measures and thanked the police administration. They expressed hope that, with everyone’s cooperation, Christmas would be celebrated in a festive atmosphere while maintaining religious solemnity, as in previous years. Read more: Freedom fighter, wife found dead in Rangpur RAB Director General (Additional IGP) AKM Shahidur Rahman, concerned Additional IGPs and senior officers of Police Headquarters, St. Mary’s Cathedral Church Pastor Father Albert Rosario, Bangladesh Christian Association President Nirmal Rosario, Joint Secretary General James Subrata Hazra, Public Relations and Communications Secretary Apu Placid Madhu, and The Christian Cooperative Credit Union Limited President Michael John Gomez and Secretary Manju Maria Palma were present at the meeting. All police commissioners, Range DIGs, and district police superintendents were connected to the meeting virtually.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday (December 15, 2025) reaffirmed that there is no uncertainty over the upcoming national election as it will be held in free, fair and competitive manners on time. “InshaAllah, rest assured-- we will rightly see a fair, nice and competitive election at the right time,” he said while inaugurating a Youth Voter Festival in the city’s Gulshan area. Referring to the recent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho and an independent aspirant from Dhaka-8 constituency, the CEC described the incident as a stray incident. Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission remains firmly committed to fulfilling the promise it has made to the nation. “With everyone’s participation, InshaAllah, we will present a beautiful election,” he said. Read more: Environment congenial for February, 2026 election: Salehuddin Replying to a question, the CEC said there is no uncertainty over the election and the Election Commission is fully prepared to move ahead with the election process. “There is no uncertainty about the election. We are fully prepared to move ahead. The election will be held inshaAllah…the election will be held with everyone’s participation and cooperation. Whatever concerns come to your mind, cast them aside,” he added. Nasir Uddin asked all to prepare for the election so that the Commission can hold a fair election with everyone’s support. In reply to another question if the law and order situation is a barrier on the way to deliver a fair election, he said the overall situation has improved significantly compared to the condition seen in the next week after August 05, 2024. CEC Nasir urges voters to vote fearlessly “Where has the law-and-order situation deteriorated? Only occasional criminal incidents occur,” the CEC questioned, adding, the incident involving Hadi is something we think isolated. Such incidents were always seen in the past. There were the killings of former minister ASM Kibria and former MP Ahsanullah Master.” He said the law and order situation has improved considerably compared to the situation in a week after August 5 2024, when police stations were inactive. “Now we can move freely on the streets and sleep peacefully. So, there has been no deterioration in law and order.” The CEC said the Election Commission held a meeting with law enforcement agencies on Sunday and issued necessary directives. The law enforcement agencies informed the Commission that they are fully prepared to maintain peace and order throughout the election period. Read more: Bangladesh Polls: Permission must for social, religious events before electioneering  Emphasising the role of young voters, Nasir Uddin urged them not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate others to participate in the election. “The youth is the symbol of courage and creativity. It is not possible to build the country without you. The upcoming election will be fair, beautiful and transparent, and it will be held with the youths. Bangladesh needs to move forward by relying on the youths. We hope that the next election we hold will be a free, fair and credible election,” the CEC described. described the coming election as historic, highlighting its several unique and important features. “For the first time in 54 years, expatriate Bangladeshis have been brought under the voting process through postal ballots.”The CEC also said arrangements have been made for nearly one million officials and employees involved in the election process, including members of the law enforcement agencies, to cast their votes—many of whom were previously unable to do so. Election schedule to be declared in second week of Dec: CEC Nasir Besides, the Commission has taken initiative to bring the persons under lawful custody (prisoners) and the government employees posted outside their respective constituencies under the postal balloting system in this election. “In addition, a referendum will be held alongside the national election. Considering all these aspects, this election is undoubtedly historic.” Calling the Commission’s initiatives bold and strong, Nasir Uddin said the active participation of young voters would be crucial to the success of the process. “If you stand with us in this courageous step, InshaAllah, we will be successful in delivering a free, fair and credible election. With your participation in this bold step of ours, InshaAllah we will be successful in delivering free, fair and credible elections,” the CEC said. Read more: Dialogue urges parties to prioritise rights of women and children in election manifestos

As the national election approaches, law enforcement agencies have stepped up operations to recover illegal firearms, aiming to prevent violence, sabotage and broader security threats. As in previous election cycles, police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and intelligence agencies are conducting special drives nationwide. Yet a critical question persists: how effective are these efforts on the ground? The concern is sharpened by the fallout from the student-led mass uprising on August 5 last year, when 5,763 firearms were looted or went missing from police stations and other installations across the country. Of these, 4,426 weapons have since been recovered, leaving 1,337 still untraced. A senior official at Police Headquarters, speaking on condition of anonymity, told UNB that most of the recovered looted weapons were heavy arms. The missing cache, however, largely consists of small firearms such as pistols and revolvers. While many unrecovered heavy weapons are believed to have been smuggled out through border routes, small arms pose a greater risk due to their portability and ease of concealment—raising fears of their potential use in election-related violence, he said. Election Pressure and Arms Challenge Historically, Bangladesh’s pre-election period is marked by heightened political tension and a greater risk of illegal arms use. Past elections have seen links between this period and incidents such as cocktail explosions, arson attacks and targeted violence. Consequently, arms recovery drives are treated as a top priority ahead of the polls. Read more: Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 to begin ahead of national election According to multiple law enforcement sources, coordinated nationwide operations involving police, RAB and specialised intelligence units are launched before every election with the aim of cutting off the supply of weapons before violence erupts. AIG (Media) at Police Headquarters, AHM Shahadat Hossain, told UNB that arms recovery operations are currently ongoing across the country, with weapons being seized almost daily. Checkposts have been strengthened and patrols intensified, he said, adding that operations would be further scaled up once the election schedule is announced. He also noted that upcoming drives would be more intelligence-based, as agencies have already identified violence-prone areas and enhanced surveillance ahead of the polls. Reward Announced, But Limited Gains Several months ago, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Police Headquarters jointly announced monetary rewards for the recovery of looted weapons still missing since the August 5 unrest. While the initiative was initially welcomed, officials now concede that the results have fallen short of expectations. Read more: Firearms, ammo seized at Airport Railway Station A responsible source at Police Headquarters told UNB that the reward announcement did not lead to any major breakthroughs, noting that almost all recovered looted weapons had been seized before the incentive was introduced. Analysts suggest the assumption that illegal arms holders would voluntarily surrender weapons in exchange for rewards did not hold true in practice. Many of the firearms are believed to remain in the hands of organised criminal groups or to be under political protection. Another senior police official said more than 80 per cent of the unrecovered looted weapons are small arms, making their recovery before the election particularly challenging. Intelligence Over Sweeping Raids In response, Police Headquarters has revised its strategy, moving away from sudden blanket raids and mass arrests towards intelligence-based, targeted operations. “A sweeping operation may produce short-term results, but intelligence-driven actions allow us to strike at the core holders and networks,” a senior police officer told UNB. Read more: Ex-JCD leader among 7 arrested with arms in Gazipur raid As part of this approach, the Detective Branch (DB), Special Branch (SB) and other units have intensified field-level intelligence gathering. Known criminals, arms dealers and their associates are now under closer surveillance. How Effective Is This Model? Security analyst Brigadier General (retd) Md Abdul Hamid believes intelligence-based operations are more effective in the long run, though their impact takes time to materialise. The key challenge, he said, is the limited time available before the election. Abdul Hamid, a former Defence Adviser at the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi, added that the success of arms recovery efforts should not be judged solely by the number of weapons seized. “It also depends on how much election-time violence can be prevented. If major violence is avoided, the drive can be considered partially successful,” he said. Illegal arms recovery ahead of elections remains crucial. Yet despite reward announcements, strategic shifts and heightened intelligence activity, tangible results on the ground remain limited. Experts argue that sustained success will require coordinated action against weapon sources, trafficking networks and political protection. Ultimately, the real test of these operations will come during the election days themselves—when it will become clear whether the intensified arms recovery drive has been enough to ensure a peaceful vote. Read more: 10 foreign firearms, 30kg gunpowder seized in 24 hours

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided to immediately launch “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2” across the country to prevent subversive activities using illegal arms and to suppress ‘fascist terrorists’ ahead of the February national election. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury disclosed the decision while briefing journalists after a core committee meeting on law and order at the secretariat on Saturday (December 13, 2025). He said the law enforcement agencies are already conducting nationwide drives to recover looted and illegal firearms. Read more: 2 arrested with large cache of spying devices at Dhaka airport The adviser said the meeting in addition to routine law and order issues specifically reviewed overall security preparations for the upcoming parliamentary election, security arrangements for frontline fighters of the July movement including Osman Hadi, and progress in the recovery of looted illegal weapons. Jahangir Alam said law enforcement agencies have been directed to arrest those involved in the the attack without delay. “We hope to bring the perpetrators to justice within a very short time. No one involved in this attack will be spared,” he said expressing confidence that the people would fully cooperate with the investigation. The adviser said the attack on Osman Hadi is being viewed as an attempt to obstruct the upcoming election. He added that the interim government would take a firm stance against any attempt to disrupt or sabotage the election process. The adviser also said the interim government remains firmly committed to ensuring the security of frontline fighters of the July uprising. Read more: DMP intensifies drive to arrest attackers of Hadi

Highlighting the role of law enforcers in holding a fair election, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Saturday (December 06, 2025) the upcoming parliamentary polls will be a major test for law enforcement agencies. “Although there were initial challenges, the police have now organised themselves effectively. Ahead of the election, law enforcement must remain vigilant. Those defeated in the polls may attempt to create disorder. Our aim is to ensure a smooth election and hand over responsibilities to the newly elected government,” he said. The adviser was speaking at a meeting with Rangpur district officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room. On agricultural exports, the adviser said potato exports are under consideration but challenging due to limited global demand. Read more: Conspiratorial forces plot 1/11-like situation to disrupt election: Rashed Khan Turning to manpower export, Touhid Hossain stressed the importance of sending skilled workers abroad as wages remain low if they are not skilled manpower. People must be trained to work abroad efficiently and numerous nursing positions are vacant overseas and sending trained nurses can ensure better income and benefit the country, he said. Regarding livestock, Hossain highlighted the potential of local cattle in Rangpur, noting that their meat is highly sought after, including in Dhaka, and urged livestock initiatives to capitalise on this market. Chaired by Deputy Commissioner Md Enamul Ahsan, Superintendent of Police Md Marufat Hossain, Civil Surgeon Dr Shaheen Sultana, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Tofayel Ahmed, and District Livestock Officer Dr Abu Zaid, were, among others, present at the event. The adviser is now in Rangpur on his four-day visit. Read more: BNP places 3 fresh proposals before EC, raises no objection to election schedule

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday (11th November 2025) said law enforcement agencies are on high alert ahead of the Awami League’s planned Dhaka ‘lockdown’ programme on November 13, assuring that the situation will remain normal. The adviser made the remarks after a meeting of the advisory council committee on law and order at the Secretariat. Read more: DMP bans gatherings near CJ’s residence, SC areas from Tuesday “There had been detailed discussions here and we need your cooperation in one matter. If anyone is found suspicious, immediately inform the law enforcement agencies,” he said. He said law enforcers are in a strong position and there is no cause for concern, as they will remain vigilant. “No leniency will be shown to terrorists. You often say terrorists get bail very quickly. To ensure they do not get bail easily, we will also request the authorities not to release terrorists on easy terms,” the adviser said. Read more: Govt vows to protect interfaith unity, communal harmony

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday said law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to maintain order once the Election Commission (EC) announces the schedule for the upcoming national election. He made the statement while talking to reporters following a meeting of the core committee on law and order held at the ministry’s conference room of the Secretariat. The assurance comes amid growing political developments, including a meeting in London on Friday between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, where they reportedly discussed current national issues. Home Ministry ready to tackle election-time challenges: Adviser According to information from that meeting, the next general elections may be held in the first half of February next year. When asked about preparations by law enforcers in light of the potential election timeline, Adviser Jahangir said, “The law enforcement agencies are prepared as soon as the EC announces the date of the elections.” Responding to a question about continued cross-border push-ins from India, he said discussions had been held with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka on the issue. Tarique may return anytime, no govt bar: Home Adviser Urging the media to highlight the matter, he said, “We have asked India to follow the proper procedure if the people being sent are indeed Bangladeshis. But they have not been complying.” On the recent incident in Uttara where criminals allegedly posed as members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) to snatch money, the adviser said, “We are on the highest alert. We are doing our utmost to bring those responsible to justice.”  

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued 15 directives, including increasing patrols by the Army, BGB, Police and RAB, ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. To ensure the overall law and order situation and security during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, as well as to make the travel of people heading home safe and comfortable, the following directives should be implemented, according to a notification issued on Tuesday. The overall law and order situation across the country must be maintained with utmost priority during the lead-up to Eid-ul-Fitr. To prevent theft, robbery, snatching, extortion, and terrorist activities, in addition to uniformed police, members of intelligence agencies should be deployed, special checkposts should be set up on specific roads and intersections, money escorts should be provided during money transfers, necessary measures should be taken to prevent the spread and identification of counterfeit currency. Patrols by the Army, BGB, Police, and RAB must be increased in diplomatic areas, important locations, as well as in major cities and ports across the country. The owners of garment factories and other industries, such as BGMEA, BKMEA, and the Industrial Police, must sit together and make necessary arrangements to pay workers' salaries, allowances, bonuses, etc., before Eid. All-out measures taken for safe Eid celebration: DMP chief To ensure smooth shopping for the general public during Eid, in addition to uniformed police, female police officers and plainclothes police members should be deployed. Special night-time security arrangements should be ensured in markets, and all markets should be brought under CCTV surveillance. To ensure the safety of people travelling home for Eid, no extra fare should be charged on buses, trains, and launches, and no extra money should be collected by irregular or illegal queues at ferry terminals. Extra passengers should not be carried, and necessary strict actions should be taken by the relevant authorities to control extortion in transportation. To resolve traffic congestion across the country, especially in the capital, effective and appropriate measures must be taken. For the smooth flow of traffic at toll plazas, including Jamuna Bridge, Padma Bridge, and flyovers, the relevant authorities should implement effective measures for quick toll collection, including the use of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC). To resolve traffic congestion, IP/CC cameras should be installed at 155 identified spots by the Road Transport and Highways Department, and monitoring should be strengthened before and after Eid-ul-Fitr. If necessary, drone monitoring may be carried out at more critical locations. To resolve traffic congestion, motor vehicles should not be stopped on roads by law enforcement agencies without specific prior information during the 7 days before and after Eid. Except for essential goods carriers or passenger vehicles, construction material-carrying and long vehicles leaving from any place, including land and water ports, should not be allowed to operate on highways or ferry routes during the 3 days before and after Eid, and necessary measures should be taken in this regard. Bulkhead movement on rivers should be stopped for 5 days before and after Eid. More than 17 million Eid holidaymakers expected to depart Greater Dhaka For emergency rescue operations in case of accidents on various roads, highways, and waterways, teams from the Fire Service and Civil Defense, rescue boats, divers, firefighting equipment, and ambulances should be kept ready. If necessary, assistance from the Coast Guard should be sought. In case of an accident or a broken vehicle on roads/bridges, the affected or broken vehicles should be quickly removed and relocated to a nearby vacant space. Tow trucks should be kept available in areas prone to traffic congestion, such as Jamuna and Padma Bridges. During Eid, in addition to maintaining overall law and order, the Police Department and other law enforcement agencies should set up control rooms to maintain discipline on the roads. All control rooms should maintain communication with the Ministry of Home Affairs' central Joint Operation Centre (01320001223). Coordination should be strengthened by connecting the control rooms with the national emergency service 999 for road discipline.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has once again ordered law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant at all times to maintain law and order in the country. During an early morning visit to four police stations in the capital—Mirpur, Darus Salam, Adabor, and Mohammadpur, he issued the directive to the officials. The adviser made the early visit to the police stations and checkpots for the second consecutive day on Thursday in the capital which witnessed a deteriorating law and order situation recently. Speaking to reporters at a police station, Jahangir emphasised the importance of ensuring that citizens can sleep peacefully and move around without fear, noting that alongside law enforcement, ministry officials have also been tasked with monitoring the security situation. Moreover, the number of security personnel and patrols has been increased, he said, warning that those attempting to disrupt law and order would be brought to justice. The home adviser assured that law enforcement agencies remain alert and active, with checkpoints at key locations in the capital operating efficiently. No one should take law into own hands: Home Adviser He said joint force operations were proceeding smoothly and his inspection aims to ensure that police stations are functioning properly. Expressing concern over a tendency among law enforcement personnel to relax in their duties in the early morning hours, which criminals exploit for illegal activities, he said, "I have instructed the forces to remain alert during this period as well." Replying to a question, the adviser said they would stop the joint operations once the situation improves, but other law enforcement activities would persist. Warning action against the negligence, he said a sub-inspector and a constable from Gulshan Police Station were suspended on Wednesday for negligence in duty. Starting his visit from his residence in Baridhara DOHS, the adviser traveled through ECB Chattar, Kalshi, Pallabi, and Mirpur-10 before arriving at Mirpur Police Station. He then proceeded to Darus Salam Police Station via Mirpur-1 followed by visits to Adabor and Mohammadpur Police Stations. His return route covered Dhanmondi-27, the Parliament area, Bijoy Sarani, Mohakhali, and Banani before concluding at his residence. Home Adviser goes out on surprise inspection of police patrol operations at dawn While inspecting police reception areas, detention cells, and other facilities, he interacted with on-duty officers, providing necessary instructions and urging them to be more proactive. He visited checkpoints at Zillur Rahman Flyover and Kalshi Mor.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday urged people not to take law into their own hands. “I will urge people not to take law into their own hands and police to become more active,” he told reporters after inaugurating the farmers’ cool house initiative and the farmers’ mobile app developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) at the Horticulture Centre in Rajalakh area of Savar in the morning. The Home Adviser said the police and other law enforcement agencies across the country are working together to ensure public safety and prevent people from taking the law into their own hands. Law and Order Core Committee decides on increased patrols, joint operations Jahangir Alam said he himself was out in the capital early this morning to monitor the law-and-order situation. He stressed the need for vigilance, especially during the early hours, as criminal activities are more prevalent at that time. There was serious unrest among garment workers in Ashulia industrial zone but the problem has now been resolved and there is no longer any discontent, he added. Alongside police, the army is also deployed in Ashulia, Savar, and Dhamrai areas to ensure safety. He also said the government has undertaken several measures to protect agricultural lands. Patrolling to be increased from today following deterioration of law and order situation: Press Secretary Agriculture Secretary Dr Md Emdad Ullah Mia and senior officials from various government departments and law enforcement agencies, among others, attended the meeting.