United News of Bangladesh

The government is actively working to implement the rightful demands of workers including the garment workers as the government is sincere about their demands, according to a statement of the Home Affairs Ministry.“The government is highly sincere and agreed to the rightful demands of due wages and benefits of workers including garment workers and other industrial sectors, and it is actively working to implement these demands and is making all-out efforts in this regard. Instructions have been given to factory owners and the BGMEA. Their activities are being monitored," it said.However, creating unrest in the garment industry under the pretext of unfair or unreasonable demands, blocking roads to halt vehicular movement and engaging in anarchy and violence are not acceptable under any circumstances and will not be tolerate, it said. Home adviser pays tributes at Razarbagh Police Memorial The government will take strict action against such activities, it added. To maintain stable and secure environment in garment and other industrial sectors and maintain law and order in the country the government seeks the cooperation of both factory owners and workers, the statement reads.

Molla Nazrul Islam, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police and former superintendent of Sylhet Police Abdul Mannan have been suspended.The Public Security Division of the Home Ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard on Monday.Molla Nazrul, a former commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), is now attached to Rajshahi Sarda Police Academy.According to the notification, DIG Molla Nazrul Islam was arrested on February 9 and produced before a court. HRW asks ICC to suspend Afghanistan's membershipSP Abdul Mannan was attached to the Rangpur Range DIG office after his arrest on February 9, according to another notification. Later, he was sent to jail after being produced before a court in Sylhet.Both of them were suspended as per Section 39(2) of the Government Service Act, 2018.

Followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi will be allowed to participate in the second phase of Biswa Ijtema from February 14 to 16 at Tongi, on condition of refraining from organising any Tabligh activities or arranging the event in 2026. The Public Security Division of the Home Ministry issued a notice in this regard on Tuesday.According to the notice, Maulana Saad’s followers can hold the second phase of Biswa Ijtema as scheduled on February 14-16 but must vacate the Ijtema ground to the local administration after Maghrib prayers on February 18. 1st phase of Biswa Ijtema underway in Tongi The venue will then be transferred to the Shura-e-Nizam (followers of Maulana Zubair) on February 20. The first phase of Ijtema, organised by Maulana Zubair’s followers, took place from January 31 to February 2. They are scheduled to return the Ijtema ground to the local administration on February 6.Four people were killed and 40 were injured in a clash between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi on December 18, 2024. Fire Service strengthens safety measures at Ijtema ground On December 19, Maulana Zubair's follower M Alam Hossain filed a murder case against 29 people at the Tongi West Police Station naming Wasiful Islam as the main accused.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has reiterated its warning to foreign nationals residing illegally in Bangladesh, urging them to regularise their status within the stipulated timeframe. It said that failure to comply will result in legal actions under the Foreigners Act, 1946. This announcement was made in a media release issued on Tuesday, signed by Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. The warning states, "It is hereby brought to the notice of all concerned that numerous foreign nationals are residing and/or working illegally in Bangladesh. In this regard, those foreign nationals residing or working in Bangladesh without proper authorisation are hereby notified to regularise their status by obtaining the necessary documents by 31 January 2025, as per the previously issued warning. Failing to do so will result in actions being taken against them under the Foreigners Act, 1946." Appellate Division upholds HC's dismissal of 5 labour cases against Dr Yunus This is not the first time the government has issued such a notice. Over the years, the authorities have been striving to bring undocumented foreign nationals under legal purview to ensure compliance with immigration laws. The ministry has urged foreign nationals to act promptly to avoid punitive measures, emphasising the government's commitment to maintaining law and order.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred 50 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and 24 Additional Superintendents of Police. Three notifications were issued in this regard from the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday. Ambassador-designate Mushfiqul eyes stronger trade ties with Mexico Deputy Secretary M Mahbubur Rahman signed the notification by order of the President. In one notification, 19 officers, in another notification, 31 officers of the Superintendent of Police rank, and in a separate notification, 24 officers of the Additional Superintendent of Police rank were transferred to different units. Appointment of 6 members of BPSC cancelled Transferred officers have been posted to various units including DMP, Police Headquarters, CID, SB, RAB, PBI, APBn, CMP, RMP, and BMP.

The Home Ministry has provided Tk 5 lakh in financial assistance to the family of firefighter Md. Sohanur Zaman Nayan, who died after being struck by a truck while on duty during a fire at the Secretariat. Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General(retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury handed over the cash assistance to Nayan’s father Md. Akhtaruzzaman at his office at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon. E-passport implementation to be completed by year-end: Home Adviser Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Nasimul Gani, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department Brigadier General Zahed Kamal, Nayan’s  sister Seema Akhthar and other family members, were present. Earlier, on December 26, Nayan’s family received Tk 1 lakh in assistance along with Tk 50,000 for burial expenses from the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department. BRDB to be upgraded to directorate: Adviser Asif Mahmud Firefighter Nayan died after being hit by a truck while crossing the road in the fire team's desperate bid to douse the midnight fire at a  Secretariat building on December 26. He was a firefighter stationed at Tejgaon Fire Station.

The High Court has observed that the August 21, 2004 grenade attack case should be sent to the Home Ministry for a fresh investigation by a qualified and expert agency to ensure justice. The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain made the remarks while delivering the full text of its verdict on Thursday. The HC also directed the concerned office to forward a copy of this order to the Home Ministry for appropriate and necessary action. "It is a heinous, tragic incident in the history of this country, where many people lost their lives, including then Awami League leader Ivy Rahman. The killings need to be investigated properly and independently to ensure justice, which has been completely absent in this case until today. In this context, we believe the case should be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take necessary steps and initiate a fresh investigation by a proper and expert agency to ensure the proper administration of justice," said the High Court bench. HC questions validity of canceling Channel I journalist’s press accreditation On December 1, the bench overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack, acquitting all convicts, including BNP's Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar. The court also declared the charge sheet in the case “illegal.” The bench delivered the judgment after holding a hearing on death references (trial court documents for confirmation of capital punishment) and appeals filed by some of the convicts of the cases. The grenade attack, a shocking incident, occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. At least 24 people, including Awami League’s women affairs secretary and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed. Three hundred others were also injured. Sheikh Hasina survived but suffered hearing impairment. On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal issued a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives). The tribunal sentenced 19 people, including Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Besides, 19 others, including BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were handed life imprisonment sentences, while 11 accused received various terms of imprisonment and fines.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted permission to 579 field-level officials of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) to use weapons. These officials, ranging from deputy directors to sub-inspectors, will now be authorised to use 9 mm semi-automatic pistols (T-54). Alongside this approval, the ministry has issued the "Department of Narcotics Control (Officers-Employees) Weapon Procurement and Usage Policy 2024." The Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the policy on Tuesday. According to the policy, the DNC serves as the nodal agency for curbing narcotics abuse in Bangladesh. Field-level officials regularly conduct narcotics recovery operations, arrest drug traffickers, and manage case investigations. The ministry developed the policy to strengthen the DNC and address the security risks its officials face during these operations. DNC currently employs 3,059 personnel. This includes one director general, four directors, nine additional directors, 90 deputy directors, 93 assistant directors, 186 inspectors, 210 sub-inspectors, 285 assistant sub-inspectors, and 928 sepoys. Of them, 1,806 officers and employees are actively involved in narcotics crime suppression. The ministry has prioritised weapon procurement for 579 field-level personnel, including 90 deputy directors, 93 assistant directors, 186 inspectors, and 210 sub-Inspectors. The policy seeks to enhance their operational capacity and ensure their safety during anti-drug missions.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday night gave approval to arrest four police officials accused in cases of assaults and killings filed over the recent student-led upsurge. A notification, signed by Abu Sayeed, deputy secretary of the Public Security Division under the ministry, was issued in this regard. The accused are additional superintendents of police (add. SPs) Shahen Shah, Hasan Arafat, Jewel Rana and Md Rafiqul Islam. They were all promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP) during the Awami League regime and worked under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Read: No case, arrest for involvement in July-August mass uprising: Home Ministry Of them, Shahen Shah and Hasan Arafat were attached to the Detective Branch while Jewel in the Diplomatic Security division and Rafiqul in Gulshan division. With this, the ministry has so far permitted arrest of 30 police officials who were sued in cases filed for their alleged involvement in attacking and firing during the upsurge that ousted Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the authorities concerned to refrain from suing, arresting and harassing those involved in the July-August mass upsurge. A notification was issued in this regard on Monday. Read more: US again denies any role in former prime minister Hasina's ouster in mass upsurge According to the notification, students and mass people who actively worked to make the mass uprising a success from July 15 to August 8 will not be arrested, sued or harassed. The authorities concerned were asked to remain highly vigilant in this regard.