Home Minister
Names of puja violence instigators to be disclosed soon: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan on Tuesday said the names of those who fuelled the violence at puja mandaps in different parts of the country will be made public soon.
The minister said this at ‘BSRF Dialogue’ organized by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum at the secretariat.
“Those who’ve been arrested in Rangpur and Noakhali vandalism cases have disclosed their (instigators) names in their confessional statements given under section 164 of the penal code,” he said.
Read: Communal violence: Citizens demand exemplary punishment for perpetrators
“So far, 10 cases have been filed over the vandalism triggered following the desecration of Holy Quran in Cumilla, and 18 people have been arrested for being directly involved in the criminal acts. Confessional statements of the arrestees are being recorded, and we’ll disclose the names after being hundred percent sure,” the minister added.
Prime suspect of Cumilla incident identified: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday said police have identified the prime suspect of the Cumilla puja mandap incident.
“I hope the prime suspect in Cumilla incident will be arrested soon …he’s changing his location frequently. We’ll be able to unfold the Cumilla incident once he’s arrested,” he said.
The minister revealed the information while speaking at a programme on ‘Technological Modernization of Rab’ held at the Rab headquarters.
Those who are trying to unleash communal violence and provoke people will be arrested soon, he said.
“We’ve seen some unpleasant incidents at puja mandaps this year and some people attempted to vandalize a temple in Chandpur centering the Cumilla incident. Police had to face trouble in bringing the situation under control. Four people died and another succumbed to injuries at a hospital on Tuesday morning,” said Asaduzzaman.
Read:Cumilla incident: DIG says offenders to be hunted down
Besides, attempts were made to destabilize the situation in Ramu, Nasirnagar and Bhola spreading rumours through social networking site Facebook, he said.
“A vested quarter is involved in spreading propaganda in the country through uploading video footage of many brutal incidents that took place in the country in different times in the past in the social networking sites. These are condemnable and unfortunate,” he added.
Read:Cumilla incident: BGB troops deployed in 22 districts
Issuing a warning, the minister said those who are trying to get benefitted by spreading such rumours will be hunted down and punished.
Asaduzzaman urged people to control excitement after watching such incidents on Facebook and refrain from doing anything out of provocation. These are harmful and the Rangpur incident is an example, he added.
Rangpur offenders must face action: Home Minister
Those involved in the Rangpur incident will be brought to book, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday. “So far, police have detained 44 people with the help of the local people and we’re trying to know whether it’s a motivated and planned one. Those involved in it will be brought to justice,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
Read:42 detained over Rangpur arson attacks
Cumilla incident aimed at destroying communal harmony: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said the Cumilla incident was planned for destroying the communal harmony of the country.
“It appears to us that it was a motivated act instigated by a vested group,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
He also smelled provocations by ‘a third party’ in the sporadic violence in the country over Durga Puja.
Read:Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla incident: Home Minister
Asked about the reason behind the Cumilla incident, the minister said, “We’ll make it public once we get all the evidence and those who were involved in it will be given exemplary punishment.”
“Not only in Cumilla, attempts were also made to destabilize the country through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar,” he said.
“The people of Bangladesh are religious but, not fanatic. We never allowed militancy and terrorism on the soil of Bangladesh. We contained militancy and terrorism through united efforts,” said Asaduzzaman.
Read:Don’t hide drug addiction in family, seek early medical treatment: Home Minister
Soon after the Cumilla incident, four lives were lost at Hajiganj in Chandpur and some policemen were also injured, he said, adding some small incidents also occurred in Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Feni districts.
“No incident has been reported since Saturday night. Our security forces are working with patience and we work on intelligence information. Those who are trying to destroy communal peace will not succeed,” said the minister.
Regarding BNP’s allegation over government’s involvement in Cumilla incident, the minister said these statements are not based on facts as those are motivated ones.
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.
Don’t hide drug addiction in family, seek early medical treatment: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Thursday called upon the families of drug addicts to bring them under proper treatment without hiding the information.
The minister addressing as the chief guest the inauguration ceremony of a 60-bed state-of-the-art drug rehabilitation centre, “OASIS” at Keraniganj, on the outskirt of Dhaka built under the initiative of Bangladesh Police Welfare Trust.
"What will happen to those who are addicted to drugs? We want to treat them, bring them back to a healthy normal life. If any member of the family is addicted to drugs, bring them under proper treatment without hiding,” he said.
"We are working to reduce the supply, demand and harmful effects of drugs. That is why everyone has to come forward," he said.
Asaduzzman said that drugs are not made in the country. “But we are victims of its horrors. We have seen the consequences if we do not stop the youth from using drugs,” he said.
Read: Govt officials to face dope test, says the home minister
He said that under the leadership of the prime minister, the government succeeded in the fight against militancy and terrorism.
Appreciating the initiative to set up the "Oasis" the minister called upon the rich people to take such initiatives too.
In his speech Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed said "Rich-poor regardless I have seen a horrible picture of the suffering of families with drug addicts. I have seen the established people of the society secretly shed tears.”
He said, according to many, the number of drug addicts in Bangladesh is 80 lakh. Some say that number has exceeded one crore. There are 7,000 medical facilities under their public and private management. “Then how many years it will take to treat them?. With these aspects in mind, we have taken the initiative to set up a modern drug addiction treatment and mental health counselling centre,” he added.
Read: Law equal for all, no exception for police: Home Minister
He said, "In future, we want to build a hospital with five hundred to one thousand beds in a large area on the banks of Kaliganga river in Manikganj." In this case, we want to be a regional hub”
Chaired by Benazir , who is also chairman of Bangladesh Police Welfare Trust, the programme was also addressed among others, by Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Director General of the Directorate of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Additional Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control Md. Azizul Islam.
Mohib Ullah killers to face justice, security at camps to be heightened: Home Minister
The killers of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah will be brought to justice soon, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said.
The Home Minister said this on Sunday during a meeting on the Durgo Puja security arrangements at the ministry's conference room.
Read: 4 held over Mohib Ullah murder; 7-day remand sought for 2
Adding that an investigation was underway to find the cause of Mohib Ullah's murder, he said that the suspects will be brought to book soon.
Mentioning Mohib Ullah as vocal for the Rohingyas, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that he always spoke about their repatriation.
Read: Mohib's murder: FIR lodged, probe in full swing, say police
He said that the government has been investigating to find out whether any foreign agents were trying to make the situation turbulent in the refugee camp.
About increasing the security in the camps, he informed that barbed wire fence is being installed around the Rohingya camps which will be completed in a few days.Watchtowers at Rohingya camps are also being set to ensure high security, he added.
BGMEA requests home minister to end transport strike on urgent basis
Apparel exporters have expressed anxiety over a three-day strike called by the Bangladesh Covered Van- Truck- Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association and Bangladesh Truck Drivers, Workers Federation.
A delegation of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led by its acting President SM Mannan (Kochi) met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at his residence on Monday night and requested that steps be taken to resolve the problem, taking the interests of the industry into consideration.
The BGMEA delegation included Vice President Shahidullah Azim, Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin and Director Md. Khosru Chowdhury.
The BGMEA leaders said retail sales are growing in the major RMG export markets as stores are opening following mass vaccination there, and Bangladesh is getting a lot of work orders as a result.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The issue of lead time is very important for the export-oriented RMG industry where every hour counts since manufacturers have to make shipment of products within the lead time specified by buyers.
So any strike at this moment will severely affect the industry, they said.
The BGMEA leaders urged the Home Minister to take steps to keep the transportation of export-import goods by road smooth and normal.
The Home Minister assured the delegation of addressing the problem through discussion with the leaders of transport associations, said a media release on Tuesday.
The BGMEA delegation said many buyers are demanding air shipment of products to make the delivery quicker as demand is rising sharply in their stores. Increased demand for air shipment has led to cargo congestion at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
But lack of sufficient number of scanning machines at the airport causes delays in air shipment, they said.
Moreover, one of the two existing explosive detection systems (EDS) often remains out of service due to lack of proper maintenance, BGMEA said.
So, buyers ask to have exported cargoes scanned at Kolkata airport due to lack of sufficient number of scanning machines, which results in cost rise and is not good for Bangladesh’s image, they said.
The BGMEA leaders urged the Home Minister to take steps for increasing the number of EDS at the airport alongside regular maintenance.
The Home Minister assured them of addressing the issues.
BNP MP demands statement from Home Minister over Dhaka Boat Club
BNP MP Harunur Rashid on Friday demanded a statement from the home minister over the establishment of the much-talked-about Dhaka Boat Club.
"Has it been set up alongside a river with government approval? Is the Inspector General of Police (IGP) performing as its president with any government permission?" he questioned.
The opposition MP came up with the questions while speaking in parliament on a point-of-order.
"I don't know whether the chief of the police department can become a member or play a role in establishing any such club! There’s nothing like that in Bangladesh’s 50 years of history since independence,” Harun said.
He alleged that consumption of alcohol, playing cards and gambling go there regularly.
He demanded a statement from the home minister whether the IGP could be a member of any such club under any law.
The Dhaka Boat Club Limited came in the limelight after actress Pori Moni brought an allegation of rape and murder attempt on her at the club. Later, businessman Nasiruddin Mahmood and Omi were arrested in a case filed by Pori Moni.
Read: Take action against Dhaka Boat Club: BNP MP
Govt officials to face dope test, says the home minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday said the government officials and employees will be brought under dope test in a year and action will be taken against those who would test positive.
“The government has made dope test mandatory for government jobs in a bid to discourage use of drugs and many proposals are on line,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
“The educational institutions will be brought under the system and the students who will get enrolled in educational institutions, universities and colleges will be brought under dope testing. And the teachers too will undergo the test. We have a discussion in this regard,” said the minister.
Also read: Law equal for all, no exception for police: Home Minister
Replying to a question on when it would be implemented, the home minister said “The Cabinet secretary will tell about it.”
Referring to the clash between police and BNP at Chandrima Udyan in the city, the Asaduzzman said “BNP has violated the rule as the government has imposed restriction on public gatherings considering the Covid situation. A chaotic situation was created there as the BNP men entered there forcibly. They just forced the law enforcers to take action.”
Police will take further action against those involved in it, he said.
Earlier in the day, BNP activists clashed with police in front of Chandrima Udyan in the city on while visiting Ziaur Rahman's grave after the formation of new city committees.
Also read: Won’t tolerate anarchy: Home Minister
The clash broke out around 10:30 am when the newly-formed convening committees of BNP's Dhaka city north and south units went to place wreaths at the grave of the party's founder Ziaur Rahman.
He dismissed as baseless the talk of Bangladeshis leaving for Afghanistan.
“This is baseless and those who said it are wrong. Everything is closed now. Our air service has been suspended there. How would they go to Afghanistan? Did they go on foot? There is no way to go to Afghanistan?”
“The people of our country are Islamic minded and they did not support any militant activity and extremism. So what is happening in Afghanistan is its own business,” he said.