United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday (November 15) said that a special law enforcement and security deployment plan will be there in place for nine days over the upcoming national election. “The plan includes five days prior to the election, one day on the election day, and three days following the vote, with strict security measures enforced throughout; and the duration may be adjusted depending on the country’s situation,” he said while talking to reporters at Patuakhali Circuit House. The adviser said the army currently has 30,000 personnel deployed, but this number is expected to rise to nearly 100,000 during the election period. He said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will contribute around 35,000 members, while the Navy and the Coast Guard will deploy five thousand and four thousand personnel respectively. “The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will have approximately eight thousand members on duty.” Read more: Tensions rise as ICT going to set verdict date in Hasina case The adviser highlighted the role of the Ansar force, noting that about 550,000 personnel will be involved in the election management. According to him, Ansar will play a major role this time and will be equipped with weapons and body cameras to ensure effective management and security throughout the election period. Emphasising security, he asserted, “There is no room for doubt regarding security. The election will be held very peacefully—there is no question about that.” On a question regarding the change of government, the adviser said, “The government did not fall because of three individuals. It happened due to the spontaneous participation of the people. You have seen how they fled the country, how their relatives escaped. It was not due to one or two persons; it happened because of the will of the people.” Later, he inspected the Patuakhali Police Lines and the Coast Guard Station. Read more: Dhaka on high alert amid Awami League's countrywide ‘lockdown’ call

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday warned that the government will enforce the law to clear roads and railways in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district if the ongoing blockade is not resolved shortly. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the law and order committee at the Secretariat, the adviser said the protesters should present their demands through proper channels instead of holding millions of people hostage. “This cannot be tolerated. If they do not resolve the issue by this afternoon, we will apply the law to at least clear the roads,” he said. The protesters continued the blockade programme for the fifth day on Sunday, demanding reinstatement of the Faridpur-4 parliamentary constituency boundary. The demonstrators blocked seven points on two highways and three points on rail tracks, causing severe disruption to transport and immense suffering for people across 21 districts in the country’s southwest region. Faridpur protesters block highways, railways for 5th day over constituency demarcation At around 9am, protesters stopped the Nakshikatha train at Hamirdi railway crossing on the Rajbari–Faridpur–Dhaka line, forcing passengers to disembark. Expressing frustration over the disruption, passenger Bachchu Matubber from Rasulpur village in Saltha upazila of Faridpur said he was forced to get off while travelling to Dhaka with a sack of onions for his daughter. The demonstrations follow the Election Commission’s recent gazette, which redrew boundaries for 46 parliamentary constituencies ahead of the upcoming national election. According to the gazette, Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga upazila, previously under Faridpur-4, have been attached to Nagar Kanda upazila under Faridpur-2.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has announced plans to provide employment opportunities within prisons for the protestors injured during the July-August movement. “Our initiative is aimed at providing them with employment opportunities,” he said while speaking to reporters after inspecting the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on Sunday. Responding to a query, the adviser said 700 inmates who escaped from various prisons following the incidents of August 5 remain at large, while the rest have been apprehended. Beximco’s closed factory won’t reopen: Adviser Sakhawat He assured that comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent any future security lapses in prisons. “Any escaped individual who is recaptured will be brought to justice.” Replying to another question, the adviser acknowledged that incidents of mugging and extortion persist. “While perpetrators are being arrested, many return to criminal activities after their release. Efforts are ongoing to minimise these offences as much as possible.” Speaking about police performance, the adviser said, “There is no shortage of police personnel, but perhaps their motivation for work has declined. We are making every effort to reinvigorate their enthusiasm.” Home Adviser urges US to rehabilitate more Rohingyas During his visit, the Home Adviser also inaugurated a prison hotline (09612021690). This hotline enables people to access various inmate-related details, such as their status, court appearance dates, visitation schedules, phone call timings, health updates, and information on parole. It also provides a platform for submitting complaints and suggestions.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday appreciated Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury for halting India's construction of fencing in several zero-line areas along the Bangladesh-India border. Speaking at a milad and doa mahfil at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he also accused deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of being "sold" to India, claiming she had sacrificed Bangladesh’s interests in favour of the neighbouring country. Jatiyatabdi Rickshaw, Van, and Auto Chalak Dal organised the programme to pray for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's speedy recovery as she undergoes treatment in London.  “I thank the Home Affairs Adviser of the interim government as for the first time the BGB and the people resisted the barbed-wire fence that India was forcibly constructing along the border without any consultation,” Rizvi said. HC affirms legitimacy of interim government, cites public consensus He said Sheikh Hasina and her masters believed they could easily subdue the people of Bangladesh. The BNP leader also said South Block in Delhi never considered the depth and intensity of the patriotism of the Bangladeshi people. “They thought that if Sheikh Hasina remained in power, their purposes would be fulfilled. But the Indian policymakers failed to understand that lakhs of people from Jatrabari, Uttara, and Gabtoli could rise up and drive Sheikh Hasina out of Bangladesh,” he said. Rizvi said India had constructed barbed-wire fences in about 160 locations along the border between the two independent countries from 2010 to 2023, without any prior consultation as Sheikh Hasina gave them that scope, weakening Bangladesh’s sovereignty. The BNP leader mentioned that India had already fenced over 3,000 kilometres of the 4,156-kilometre-long Bangladesh-India border, leaving only approximately 885 kilometres unfenced. According to international rules, regulations, agreements, and discussions between the two countries at different times, he said any development plan within 150 yards of the zero line of the border must be discussed between the two countries. “But they (India) are trying to erect barbed-wire fences in various places, including along Lalmonirhat border, without complying with any of these agreements and regulations,” Rizvi said. He said the people of Bangladesh have joined the BGB members this time to resist India’s such an unfair move.  Khaleda stable in London, undergoing routine tests The BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina, during her rule, did not allow such an example to happen. “With fascism, with her ruthlessness, with her brutality, she (Sheikh Hasina) worked as a servant of India to serve its interests.” He recalled that Sheikh Hasina used to say many of her party members could be bought, but Sheikh Hasina could not be bought. “You (Hasina) can be bought first… India bought you first… that’s why you gave India the opportunity to do unequal work by trampling the independence, sovereignty, and glory of your own country.” Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday that Bangladesh halted India’s construction of fencing in several zero-line areas along the Bangladesh-India border as it was a violation of international law. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on border, he said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has taken a firm stance to prevent such construction, already halting fencing in five locations, including Chapainawabganj, Nagaon and Dahagram in Lalmonirhat, the adviser added.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has proposed offering employment opportunities to 100 individuals injured during the July uprising. "This initiative aims to help the injured regain financial stability. While we cannot offer help everywhere to all those injured, we have submitted proposals and are advising that employment be arranged wherever feasible for those affected,” he said on Tuesday. The adviser was speaking to journalists after inspecting the Special Branch (SB) and the CID headquarters. Myanmar Crisis: Genuine dialogue sought to find peaceful solution Additionally, he addressed concerns about the previous government’s involvement in money laundering. "The biggest issue with the previous government was money laundering. They were the primary culprits," he said. When asked about the current government's approach to money laundering, he said, "I have emphasised the need for swift action on this matter." On traffic congestion, the adviser said, "Resolving traffic congestion is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, we have proposed a plan to involve 1,000 students in traffic control tasks. We will provide them with a minimum stipend. Initially, we aimed to involve 500 people, but we could not find enough available." Govt trying to make things easy for investors: Foreign Adviser Regarding progress in the past five months, he said, "You can judge for yourselves whether there has been any improvement compared to before. The police have started their work and are taking time to familiarise themselves with the roads. They are also encountering some issues with vehicles. We are addressing this matter with great importance." In response to questions about people fleeing after August 5, he said, "From August 5-6, there was no government in place. Many fled during that time, even crossing into neighbouring countries. At that moment, we were not in power. If anyone fled later, we will investigate the matter."