Home Minister
Khaleda must follow legal process for treatment abroad, says Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan Kamal said if BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia wishes to get medical treatment abroad she must follow the legal process.
The minister said this on Saturday to journalists while attending a programme at the city's Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB).
“The court has ordered that Khaleda Zia can receive treatment only within the country. If she wishes anything more she must inform the court and the court will make the decision,” he said.
Regarding the attack on police in the city's Jurain area, the minister said, ”Police are conducting their duty properly. Some isolated incidents of attacking police are occurring and legal actions have been taken against the involved."
Also read: Ring (stent) installed in Khaleda’s heart: Fakhrul
A ring (stent) has been placed in the artery of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia after she suffered a mild heart attack earlier in the day.
Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital in the early hours of Saturday as she suddenly fell ill.
The former prime minister was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Also read: Khaleda suffers heart attack: Medical board
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the government temporarily freed Khaleda from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay at her Gulshan home and not leave the country.
Home Minister vows justice to the culprits of Sitakunda blaze
Home Minister Asaduzzman Kamal on Monday vowed to hold trial of those found responsible for the deadly fire and explosions at BM Container Depot at Sitakunda in Chattogram.
“A probe has been ordered and justice will be ensured according to the law,” he said, adding the government does not indemnify anyone who commits crime.
The home minister’s remarks came amid media reports that the depot had no license and permission to keep chemical containers, the suspected source of the disastrous fire. The containers full of hydrogen peroxide is suspected to have caused the inferno.
Also read: Depot Fire: UN for joint efforts in addressing “safety deficits” in workplaces
He was replying to questions from reporters after his visit to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital to see the condition of the injured people undergoing treatment there.
He also visited the depot, the scene of Saturday night’s tragedy.
Asaduzzaman said the authorities concerned are investigating how the fire occurred and if anybody’s negligence is found to be the reason that person will definitely be put on trial.
“None will be spared, no matter how powerful one may be. No one is above the law and if anyone found involved in any negligence will be brought to justice,” said the minister.
The death toll from the devastating fire reached 50 with the recovery of another body from a container of the depot in the morning, according to Fire Service authorities.
Also read: Operation to douse Ctg depot fire continues; Death toll stands at 50
The huge fire also left more than and 200 people were injured, some of them in critical condition.
The privately run container depot at Sonaichhari in Sitakunda of Chattogram is a joint venture of Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
Need to be tougher on drugs: Home Minister
Mentioning that 24 types of drugs are smuggled to Bangladesh from neighboring India and Myanmar, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the authorities have to be tougher on drug smuggling.
The minister said this while addressing a drug eradication function at the BGB Cox's Bazar Regional Ground in Ramu as the chief guest on Friday morning.
All offenders will be brought to justice, no matter who they are, he said.
"In our country, 50 percent of drug addicts are youth. To save this generation of the country, we have no choice but to be tough against the drugs. So our goal is to implement zero tolerance against drugs," the minister added.
While addressing the programme, the minister said there are huge swathes of Bangladesh's area bordering India and Myanmar and many of them are in extremely remote areas where border guards can't easily travel. So BGB is using modern technology including helicopters and the government is constructing border-roads, which will be completed soon, he hopes.
The minister also officially razed to the ground drugs worth Tk 395.76 crore seized over the past one year in Cox’s Bazar.
The destroyed drugs include 90,80,477 pieces of Yaba, 23.752 kg crystal meth ice, 6,767 cans of beer, 1,339 bottles of alcohol, 154 bottles of Phensedyl; 206 liters of local alcohol; 17 kg cannabis; 48,019 different types of tablets; 10,984 packets of cigarettes and sever bottles of ammonium sulfur.
Besides, 1979 arrested drug peddlers and drugs worth Tk 510.90 crore were handed over to police.
A documentary on the BGB's drive against drugs was screened at the programme and BGB Cox's Bazar Regional Commander Brigadier General Nazam-us-Sakib, AFWC, PSC delivered the welcome note.
Government officials, reporters, BGB officials and members were present at the event.
Also read: BGB destroys seized drugs worth Tk 395 crore in Cox’s Bazar
Home minister bins BNP allegation on BCL-JCD clash
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has brushed aside BNP’s allegation that the government was behind Tuesday’s attack on the party’s student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Dhaka University campus.
“These are political tactics, many people spread such propaganda. There is no truth in these,” he said while responding to a question from a reporter at the Secretariat.
Also read: 35 hurt in BCL-JCD clash in Dhaka
The home minister’s comment was sought on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s remark that the government carried out a planned attack on JCD in the Central Shaheed Minar area.
Fakhrul was referring to a clash between activists of JCD and pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) that left at least 35 people injured earlier in the day.
Strict action against those who extort in my name: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has asked the law enforcement agencies to take strict action against those who extort money in his name.
He said this while talking to reporters on the sideline of a conference of Lions Clubs International in Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Friday.
He said, “Whoever commits a crime should be punished. The man who went to extort money using my name has been arrested and a weapon has also been seized from him.”
The home minister further said that the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) took immediate action after detecting they were using my name.
The law enforcement agencies will take strict action against anyone using others’ names for extortion, he added.
Rab arrested two leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from Sabujbagh area in the city on Thursday.
The arrestees were identified as Dhaka South City BCL vice president Delwar Hossain Sayedee, 24, and BCL Dhaka South city unit general Secretary Jubayer Ahmed, 29.
READ: No police station to be built at Tetultala playground as per PM’s order: Home Minister
The elite force also recovered one foreign made pistol, one magazine, two round bullets and 578 pieces Yaba tablets from his possessions, said Additional SP Bina Rani Das of the Rab-3 battalion headquarters.
Delwar was arrested on charge of his involvedment in collecting extortion in the name of Home Minister, she said at a media release issued on Thursday evening.
Later, in an attempt to snatch BCL leader Delwar from the Rab, Dhaka South City BCL leader Jubayer was also arrested.
The Rab filed a case with Sabujbagh police station in connection with the incident. Jubayer and Delwar are in police custody at Sabujbagh police station. They will be produced in court on Friday.
During primary interrogation, Delwar admitted that he used to extort money using the name of the home minister. He also used to use his associates to spread terrorism to dominate the area showing firearms.
When the Rab's operational team took to the streets with the arrested Delwar at the end of the operation, about 200 people led by BCL leader Jubayer tried to snatch the arrested Delwar. They carried out an armed attack on the Rab. The Rab members then arrested Md. Jubayer Ahmed from North Mothertech area of Sabujbagh and dispersed the illegal mob in self-defense and for carrying out government duties. Two Rab members were injured in the attack.
The injured Rab members were given first aid at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Haji Selim returns home obeying law: Home Minister
Awami League lawmaker Haji Mohammad Selim, who went to Bangkok for treatment despite conviction in a corruption case, returned to the country abiding by the law, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Thursday.
“Haji Selim is a Member of Parliament, he is respectful to the country's law,” the minister told reporters at the Secretariat.
Also read: Haji Selim ordered to surrender before trial court within 30 days
“Therefore, there is nothing to create confusion in this regard. Hopefully the matter is clear now,” he added.
Tetultala playground now police property: Home Minister
Tetultala playground has been allotted for police and now it is their property, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said .
“Since the allotment has been made, this place belongs to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) now,” said he while responding to questions from reporters after a meeting with some environmental activists on Wednesday.
The decision regarding construction of a police station at an alternative place instead of Tetultala ground in the city’s Kalabagan area will be taken after discussions with the Prime Minister, he said.
Also read: Decision on Kalabagan playground after discussion: Home Minister
He will also discuss with the DMP Commissioner about stopping the construction of wall at the playground.
The environmental activists came to the secretariat seeking steps to arrange an alternative place for police station construction and stopping wall construction.
After the meeting, Khushi Kabir, rights activist and a coordinator of ‘Nijera Kori’ told reporters, "We wanted to stop what is going on here.”
“He (Home Minister) has said that he will discuss. He will discuss the matter with the Prime Minister,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister said Tetultala was not a playground and it was a vacant and an abandoned property. “Our new police stations in Dhaka city work mostly in rented houses. Our police force is facing various difficulties for this reason.”
“That’s why we asked the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to see whether any place can be allotted at Kalabagan by acquiring land," he said.
The DC then allotted Tetultala playground after seeing it and talking to public representatives.
“DMP has also deposited the money and the DC later handed it over to the DMP. This is the main thing,” said the minister.
"We heard children in this area used to play here. But we are clear, we need space, we also need a police station building at Kalabagan.”
Decision on Kalabagan playground after discussion: Home Minister
A decision will be taken after discussion regarding Tetultala playground which was allocated to build Kalabagan police station, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Monday.
The minister said while responding to questions of journalists after distributing clothes for Eid at Tejgaon Government Science College.
The minister said the Deputy Commissioner allocated the land to Kalabagan police station and after completion of all the procedure when the construction work was to start the protest began demanding playground.
Also read: Tetultola Playground: Fair probe into detention of mother, son demanded
“We also think it is normal for children to play in the playground and so arrangements has to be made for playground,” said Kamal.
He said,” I have asked the mayor and others involved to search for an alternative and a decision in this regard will be taken through discussion later.”
“Whatever we say about Kalabagan playground, law enforcement force has a big responsibility and if we fail to maintain law and order everything will collapse. The establishment of Kalabagan police station is a result of long term effort as the station is operating in a rented building,” said the home minister.
“Time has changed from the way we used to play in playgrounds. We feel sorry for our future generation and the main cause is urbanization here as we have limited space,” he said.
Also read: 7 parks, playgrounds opened for city dwellers
Regarding the detention of a mother and her son by police the minister said many people have informed him about the incident over phone from Sunday evening.
“As far as I know there was inconsistencies in what they were saying coming live on social media. After failing to stop them the law enforcers picked them up for questioning and then released them,” said the minister.
Those responsible for New Market violence to face action: Home Minister
Those responsible for violent clashes in New Market area will face action, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday.
“Members of law enforcement agencies are working showing their utmost patience during the clashes between the traders and the students. Hopefully the situation will be cooled down in a while,” he said.
Also read:Violent clashes erupt again between Dhaka College students, traders; over 30 hurt
The minister made these remarks while responding to a question from reporters after a meeting at the Ministry on the overall law and order situation in the country ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, payment of salaries and allowances of garment workers before Eid and keeping roads and highways safe and jam-free.
He said the clash broke from an argument over a trivial matter which was unexpected.
Many people including journalists were injured and many students and traders were sent to the hospital for first aid, he said.
“Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner and Inspector General of Police have taken immediate steps,” he added.
City traffic jams to ease soon: Home Minister
Law enforcement agencies and traffic police are working jointly to work out a plan to ease traffic congestion in the capital city, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Tuesday, hoping it will soon be under control.
He was talking to reporters after a high level meeting to review the overall law and order situation ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Also read:Traffic jam may spread to upazilas thanks to development: Minister
He attributed the traffic jams partly to the ongoing development works in the city.
The minister said the construction works of elevated ways, metro rail and flyovers in different parts of the city are going on. Besides, everything is open now after easing of Covid pandemic and people are out on shopping crreating traffic jams.
The meeting, held at Secretariat, also discussed clearing of salaries of the garment workers before Eid and ensuring safety on roads and highways.
Asaduzzaman said decisions have been taken to take effective steps to prevent criminal activities like stealing, mugging and extortion.
He said necessary steps will be taken to stop use of counterfeit notes.
Check-posts will be installed in important areas to ensure law and order, he said.