United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Col (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday asked authorities concerned to take necessary steps to stop the officers-in-charge (OCs) from taking bribes. The home adviser issued the instruction while talking to reporters after attending the views-exchange meeting with the government officers and organisations in Jashore on Tuesday. He also said that attempts to revive corrupt practices like "oil trading" in the police force, should be stopped. The adviser also stressed the need for enhancing community policing to improve law and order situation. EU urged to open visa centre for Bangladeshis in Dhaka: Home Adviser The adviser also asked the law enforcers to recover weapons looted during the July mass uprising and to keep vigil on top terrorists, released on bail. He also instructed to take a strong stance against drugs and if anyone failing to take action against drugs might lose  job. “We do not want to open rehabilitation centres just focused on stopping drug trafficking,” he said. 7 Bangladeshis return home through Beanpole after serving jail terms in India The  adviser also claimed that after taking charge of the office, it was possible to stop the recruitment trade in the police and transfer trade has also been under control. He warned that anyone lobbying in his name would be offered tea and snacks for the first time and then handed over to law enforcement for a second time.

Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Saturday that steps are being taken to improve housing and food quality for lower-ranking police personnel. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists following his inspection of three police stations in the capital — Airport, Uttara West and Turag. “The main purpose of today’s visit was to look after the accommodation and meal arrangements for the subordinate police force,” the adviser said. “During the inspection, I found their living conditions are very poor. The Chief Adviser has instructed us to look into how this can be improved. That’s why we are visiting various police stations on the ground,” he told the reporters. To reduce public suffering and improve the quality of services at police stations, he said, each police station in the capital will gradually be relocated to its own land and premises. “Efforts are underway to arrange the necessary funding for this. From September 1, nine police stations will be relocated to new or permanent locations. Others will be shifted in phases,” he added. In response to a question about harassment in false cases filed during the former fascist government, the adviser said, “Police have long been instructed to ensure that no one is harassed in false cases.” Home Adviser warns police of action over failure to control AL rallies He also directed the respective officers-in-charge (OCs) to maintain regular communication with the media and provide accurate information. Regarding the law and order situation, the adviser said it is gradually improving. “In a country of 180 million people, maintaining law and order is not an easy task. Just as it took time for journalists to assemble in an organized manner in front of the police station for a press briefing, we ask for time as well. The situation will continue to improve,” he added. He also warned that if any police inaction is found in response to Awami League activities or sudden processions, strict action will be taken.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Col (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday warned that disciplinary action would be taken against police officials if they fail to control future Awami League rallies. He made the remarks in response to a journalist’s queries regarding police inaction during recent AL processions, following a visit to the Airport Police Station in the capital. “Two people have already been detained. Instructions have been issued to the police to prevent such rallies from taking place in the future,” he said. The adviser mentioned that efforts are underway to further improve the country’s overall law and order situation. In response to queries about police officers remaining in their previous postings despite transfer orders, he said action would be taken if specific information is provided. NCP delegation led by Nahid joins talks with Consensus Commission On the issue of police transfers, he said, “We are considering whether general police personnel can be assigned within the same division. When officers are posted far from their families, it limits their leave days. They are entitled to only 20 days of annual leave, and often we are unable to grant even that. That is why we are looking into the possibility of intra-divisional postings.” The adviser also said his visit to police stations was aimed at assessing and improving accommodation and food facilities for police personnel.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam on Tuesday clarified that it is the people, not he, who have expressed the view that the interim government should remain in place for five more years. “I didn’t say that — people said the interim government should stay for five years, although our Chief Adviser has clearly stated that elections will be held between December and June. There is no question of me speaking about it,” he said at the Secretariat responding to a question about his recent remarks in Kishoreganj concerning the interim government. The adviser said influential figures, or ‘big fish’, within the Awami League who are accused of various wrongdoings are being brought to justice. Home adviser sees no specific security threat centering Pahela Baishakh When asked why only grassroots activists were being arrested while top-level offenders remained free, Jahangir Alam replied, “I don’t fully agree with that. We’re not letting the big fish go—but they have to get caught in the net first. Unless they do, we cannot catch them. Whoever enters the net, we are catching. If someone escapes after being caught, then you may question us.” About the incident of vandalism at a stage during Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Chattogram’s DC Hill, the adviser said, “That should not have happened. We will work to ensure such incidents do not recur in future. We are working for the people. But sometimes we fail to reach them effectively. We are trying, and where we fall short, we are making corrections.” Legal framework against trafficking strengthened in Bangladesh: Home Adviser Jahangir also mentioned that new police uniforms and a new logo will be introduced gradually. Speaking about the overall law and order situation during the Bengali New Year and the closing days of Chaitra, the adviser said the celebrations were peaceful and inclusive across all communities. He expressed gratitude to the law enforcement agencies and all others involved for ensuring that people could participate in the festivities safely and joyfully. Asked why people are still not receiving the services they expect from police stations, amid rising criminal activity across the country, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, acknowledged that there are widespread complaints about police failing to take reports seriously. “To address this, we’re planning to introduce online facilities for lodging General Diaries (GDs) and First Information Reports (FIRs). Online GDs will be piloted in two districts soon,” he said, adding that a formal statement will be issued from police headquarters in this regard. “We’ll soon make it possible to file FIRs online. We hope this will lead to a lasting solution to the problem,” he added.  

Police are yet to be fully revived from the violence and arson attacks the force had suffered during the August 5 uprising,  said Home Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday. Not a single vehicle was bought for them (police stations) to replace those burnt during the protests, he said adding that,the situation will improve if budget is allocated. The adviser was talking to reporters after inspecting the Airport police station in Sylhet city in the morning. Warning of tougher action against those who will take law at their own hands, Jahangir said the law and order situation is now much better compared to the past and police now don’t fear mob violence with most of the accused being detained. Home adviser sees no specific security threat centering Pahela Baishakh Seeing it a possible security threat if the looted arms remain untraced, the home adviser said the government has been working to recover the arms. Asked about the red alert against Sheikh Hasina by the Interpol, he replied that he does not have any update in this regard. Meanwhile, a video showing the adviser chiding police officials who arranged the red carpet reception for him went viral on social media. In the video, it was seen that Jahangir was asking why was such an arrangement made for him as he visited the police station with a short notice.  

Bangladesh on Tuesday sought the cooperation of Singapore in repatriating fugitives who have fled the country and taken refuge in the island state. The request was made by Home Affairs Adviser Lt General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury during a courtesy meeting with Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador Derek Loh at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the afternoon. During the meeting, the Adviser praised Singapore for its corruption-free governance and exceptional development model, suggesting that Bangladesh could follow Singapore’s example to build a more transparent and efficient system. “Singapore is a developed and corruption-free country, equipped with all modern facilities. Over the past few decades, they have made remarkable progress in infrastructure and information technology,” said Chowdhury. “It has become a major destination for global tourists due to its efficient services and integrity. Singapore is a role model in delivering public services without corruption. We should adopt their model to make Bangladesh corruption-free,” he added. A wide range of bilateral issues were discussed in the meeting, including law enforcement cooperation, public safety, manpower export, fire incident investigations, repatriation of fugitives, prevention of human trafficking, protection of human rights, and technical assistance related to the implementation of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. DR Yunus to hold breakfast meetings with Chinese, Korean investors to fast-track investment Welcoming Ambassador Loh, the Adviser described Singapore as one of Bangladesh’s closest allies and acknowledged the significant contributions of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore’s development. He called for an increased intake of Bangladeshi manpower by Singapore. In response, the Ambassador noted that Bangladeshis constitute around 5 percent of Singapore’s population and agreed that stronger people-to-people engagement is essential to further deepen the mutual trust and friendship between the two nations. The Adviser also highlighted the efficiency of Bangladeshi firefighters but noted that the country still lacks adequate capacity when it comes to investigating large-scale fire incidents. He requested technical support from Singapore in this area, to which Ambassador Loh responded that he would initiate discussions with Singapore’s Civil Defence Department. Addressing the issue of fugitives, the Adviser stated, “Several criminals from Bangladesh have sought refuge in Singapore. We need Singapore’s assistance in bringing them back to face justice.” He also proposed the signing of a mutual legal assistance agreement between the two countries. Ambassador Loh recommended that Bangladesh formally send a letter through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the matter. Rohingya repatriation hinges on Arakan stability: Khalilur Rahman The meeting was attended by Mitchell Lee, Chargé d'Affaires of the Singapore High Commission in Dhaka, and Rahul Isaac, Country Officer at the Directorate for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa under Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

Highlighting the importance of public awareness in dealing with human trafficking, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday that Bangladesh remains steadfast in its commitment to combating human trafficking and continues to take concrete steps towards that goal. He made the remarks while addressing the third meeting of the BIMSTEC Sub-Group on Combating Human Trafficking, held at Surma Hall of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The adviser said Bangladesh has established a strong legal framework to hold traffickers accountable and is actively working to enhance border security. Extortion fuels unrest in CHT: Home Adviser “We are taking active measures such as adopting a national action plan, establishing a national referral mechanism hosted on a web platform to identify trafficking victims, assess their needs and connect them with appropriate services,” he said. Jahangir said a dedicated tribunal has been established to expedite trials of traffickers, and public awareness campaigns have been systematically integrated into the country’s anti-trafficking strategy. Bangladesh has also expanded mutual legal assistance with BIMSTEC and other countries to enhance regional cooperation, he added. The adviser said BIMSTEC member states have taken significant steps to fight human trafficking and expressed hope that the meeting would serve as a platform to share those initiatives and experiences. He warned that traffickers constantly adopt new tactics to evade government efforts, exploiting economic hardship and misusing technology to operate clandestinely. “A collective and strategic approach is necessary to tackle this crime,” he said, stressing BIMSTEC’s key role in facilitating intelligence sharing and best practices among member states. Chief Adviser Dr Yunus returns home from BIMSTEC Summit Jahanigr also expressed sincere gratitude to the member countries for entrusting Bangladesh with the BIMSTEC chairmanship for the next two years. He said Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is committed to leading BIMSTEC with an inclusive, action-oriented, and visionary approach. “Under his capable and inspiring leadership, we are confident that BIMSTEC will reach new heights in fostering cooperation and deepening relationships among member states.” Jahangir said the meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss strategies, share experiences, and reaffirm BIMSTEC’s collective commitment to preventing human trafficking across the region. “The outcomes of this meeting will serve as a catalyst for stronger policy development, effective implementation, and deeper regional cooperation,” he added. Delivering the welcome address at the event, Khandker Md Mahbubur Rahman, additional secretary to Political and ICT Wing of the Public Security Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Chair of the BIMSTEC Sub-Group meeting, emphasised the importance of collective efforts in tackling the issue. Prasanth Chandran, Director of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, delivered a goodwill speech. Representatives from the seven BIMSTEC member states— Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan, participated in the meeting.  

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury paid tributes to the valiant police personnel who were martyred during the Liberation War on Wednesday.  The adviser placed wreaths at the Razarbagh Police Lines Memorial in the morning morning. Dr Yunus pays homage to Liberation War martyrs; vows reforms Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Md Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali, and RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman were also present.

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury visited the headquarters of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in Dhaka’s Uttara on Saturday. During his visit, he reviewed the activities of both forces and instructed senior officials to ensure proper accommodation, food, and other necessary facilities for personnel under their command. Top officials of Rab and APBn were present during the visit. Earlier, on February 22, the home adviser monitored patrolling activities aimed at maintaining law and order in the capital. He visited key points, including Banani intersection, Bijoy Sarani, Manik Mia Avenue, Kalabagan, Eden College, and New Market police station. Additionally, he toured Shahbagh intersection, Matshya Bhaban, Moghbazar, Hatirjheel and Police Plaza in Gulshan. During his visits, the adviser engaged with law enforcement personnel and urged them to remain on high alert to ensure security across the country.  

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said the government is taking swift action against incidents of mob justice across the country. The adviser was replying to a reporter’s question after visiting the Tourist Police Headquarters in the city’s Topkhana Road on Thursday afternoon. Regarding controlling incidents of mob attacks, the home adviser stressed the need for public awareness to curb such incidents. The public must be made aware. If people become unruly, it creates problems. Law enforcement agencies alone cannot always control the such situation, he said. Govt committee recommends withdrawal of 4,615 political cases When asked about the continued prevalence of mob violence over the past six months, including attacks on foreigners and home intrusions, he admitted it saying, "I won’t deny that incidents are happening. But wherever they occur, we are bringing those responsible under the law immediately," he added. The adviser also noted that police officers themselves have come under attacks, further underscoring the importance of public awareness. "Parents and relatives must play a role in controlling their children. The media also has a big role in preventing mob justice," he said. Regarding reports of raids on homes under the guise of operations leading to looting, he said, "No one except law enforcement agencies has the authority to conduct such operations." On the issue of highway robberies, particularly ahead of Eid, he said measures are being taken to prevent such crimes. When asked whether high-risk zones have been identified, he pointed out that robbery incidents are relatively higher in the Dhaka-Rajshahi region and parts of Tangail. "Law enforcement agencies in those areas has been instructed accordingly, and they are now more active than before," he added. CID to investigate Sadeeq Agro owner for illegal cattle import and money laundering Addressing concerns over extortion and snatching ahead of Eid, he assured that authorities are taking steps to prevent such crimes. Commenting on the challenges faced by the Tourist Police, he acknowledged the shortage of personnel, lack of dedicated police stations, and vehicle shortages. Despite these limitations, he praised the force’s efforts, emphasising that an active Tourist Police would help attract more foreign visitors and contribute to the economy. HC issues rule on President's power to pardon convicts without policy