Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Saturday said no official permission has been given to BNP yet to hold their rally in Dhaka’s Paltan area. He said this in response to a journalist’s question after inaugurating the 2nd Sheikh Kamal SAARC Snooker Championship in the capital. “As big rallies cannot be held anywhere else except Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital, the government decided to give BNP permission for that venue,” he added. Read more: BNP can hold rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on December 10: Home Minister The home minister said BNP requested for Suhrawardy Udyan along with two other venues themselves and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner also found it to be suitable. “There are some Awami League programmes scheduled to be held there, after that BNP will be able to hold their rally,” said Asaduzzaman. When asked about BNP’s remark that the government will be forced to allow their rally in Paltan, he said the government has no obligation. “Government permits only where suitable. No official permission has been granted to them yet to hold a rally at Nayapaltan area,” he added. Read more: BNP to avoid AL's trap over December-10 rally: Gayeshwar When questioned whether BNP can hold the rally anywhere else, the home minister said, “Where else can such a huge gathering be held? BNP requested for the venue in front of Parliament, but none is allowed to hold a rally there.”

Those who were involved in the killing of freedom fighters in the name of the 7th November revolution in 1975 will be tried on the soil of Bangladesh, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Monday. "An investigation committee is being formed for this,” he said while speaking at a discussion at the Central Shaheed Minar. 'Families of Martyred Freedom Fighters of the 7th November of 1975' organized the event titled '7th November, Freedom Fighters Killing Day discussion'. Also read: Fugitive killers of 4 national leaders to be brought back: Home Minister "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave us hope by prosecuting war criminals. We also believe that those who killed the freedom fighters will also be brought to justice in this country," he added. “The soldiers and freedom fighters who were executed on that day, their families do not even know where their bodies were buried. We prosecuted war criminals. After the trial, the bodies were returned to their families. But these families did not even get that. That's why they want justice today. We hope they live to see the trial of these murders,” the minister added. President of Asiatic Society, freedom fighter Prof Dr Khandker Bazlul Huq presided over the discussion while Awami League lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor spoke as a special guest.

 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.

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.

The Covid-19 vaccination programme at union level will start across the country on August 7, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday. The minister announced the government's decision while talking to reporters after a meeting held at the conference room of the Cabinet division. “The prime minister has ordered speeding up the vaccination drive. One can get vaccinated at the union level showing his or her NID card. Vaccination centres will be set up in unions across the country before August 7,” he said.     Also read:Covid fatality rate 90% among elderly villagers, says health minister Those who do not have any NID will be vaccinated under a special arrangement, he added.

The government will enforce an all out  lockdown from July 1  as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities with the highly infectious Delta variant playing havoc. Meanwhile, the country will go into the earlier announced strict lockdown ‘on a limited scale’ from Monday. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the chair on Saturday evening. State  Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain confirmed the development to UNB. “Nationwide lockdown will begin on Monday. However, for zonal closing of bills of the banking sector and various government offices at the end of the month, the maximum restrictions will kick in from July 1," he said. Details on the lockdown will be known after the government issues a notification on Sunday, the minister added. However, public transport will be suspended from Monday according to sources attending the meeting. Alsor read: COVID-19: Daily caseload drops on back of reduced tests, as positivity keeps rising Export-oriented  factories are likely to be exempted from the restrictions, they said. Earlier on Saturday, sources within Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) confirmed the news to UNB citing a circular issued by the organisation.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said intelligence agencies are trying to identify the financers of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. “Intelligence agencies are working to identify those who provide financial support to Hefazat. We’ve got some information about them, but we don't want to disclose that now.  We’ll inform you once the investigation is over,” the Home Minister said while talking to reporters at his Dhanmondi residence on Wednesday. The Home Minister said: “Everything – where’s the money coming from and how much is coming to whose account -- will be dug out through the investigation.” Also read: People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister The Home Minister went on saying, "As per our investigation, Hefazat-e-Islam carried out violence with an aim to repeat the incident of Shapla Chattar it unleashed in 2013." “They certainly had a political ambition. Our law enforcement agencies are investigating various secret activities of the organisation,” Asaduzzaman Khan said. He said that the constitution of Hefazat-e-Islam clearly states that they will not be involved in any political issue and remain above politics. “But we’ve noticed that identified terrorists and militants have become involved in politics and creating a volatile situation in the country.” Asked about Hefazat Ameer Babunagari, who was sued but no action has been taken yet against him, the minister said, “There was a case filed against Babunagari in 2013. He was arrested at that time and later he was released on bail. I can share with you after having an idea about the status of the case.” Also read: Won’t tolerate anarchy: Home Minister The Home Minister said legal action would be taken against those who will commit any crime.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that despite talks with the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, people who were involved in violence will be brought to book. He came up with the remarks at a function organised by Dhaka North City Awami League at Rajdhani School premises. The Home Minister said that people are being arrested after analysing video footages of Hefazat's violence that spread across districts. Also read: BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister Despite discussions with the group, those who participated in the violence will be punished, he added. The minister said that those who are involved in arson, vandaliism, and caused lives to be lost must be punished. Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader He said the law enforcement is not making any mass arrests or harassing anyone said. The Home Minister said Hefazat is a non-political group and there is no provision of doing politics on its policies. Although many disagree with it, he said.

Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that the woman who was with Hefazat Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque in a Sonargaon resort is not his wife. The Minister said this while giving a statement under Section 300 in Parliament on Hefazat’s mayhem in Hathhazari, Brahmanbaria and Sonargaon. He said that Mamunul was staying at a resort in Sonargaon upazila with a woman. "She is not his wife, I will let you know more information after knowing," he said.   Also read: Won’t tolerate anarchy: Home Minister The Minister said that he does not know why the attack was carried out on the resort by the Hefazat men after broadcasting the incident in the television channels. "There were some foreigners in the resort, police and BGB men rescued them," he said. Regarding the Hefazat mayhem in different areas of the country recently, the Home Minister said that definitely there is an objective behind these. "We are taking steps as per law, no one will be spared," he said.

The government is going to take a strict stance to prevent all kind of anarchy and secure people’s lives and properties, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Sunday. He came up with the warning while talking to reporters at the secretariat. The warning came after a daylong Hefazat-e-Islam hartal protesting against, what it called “police action” on its ‘anti-Modi’ processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts. Minister Kamal said some rowdy people and groups, spurred on by religious fanaticism, are destroying public properties in Chattogram, Brahmanbaria and other parts of the country. “I’m requesting them to stop,” he said, “otherwise, the government will take stern action.” Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes He said that the government has noticed some vested groups using orphans and minors to advance their own agenda. “In some places, small children and orphans were victimised. This is anarchism,” Kamal said. “We’ve observed them patiently, now we’ll resist them and bring them to book. Their tactics (hartal supporters) show that militants who triggered instability in the past, have joined hands to create sabotage,” he said, adding that no one will be spared. Responding to a question, the minister said that most of the students who study in madrasas come from poor background. “They’re being used and misled using the name of religion.” Hefazat announces fresh protest programme Hardline Islamist group Hefazat also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday during which clashes with police left at least five people dead in Brahmanbaria. Also read: Hefazat announces ‘doa mahfil, demonstration’ for Monday On Friday, four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in a clash between Hefazat supporters and police at Hathazari in Chattogram. On the same day, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.