This year's Ramadan is still a couple of days away, but a segment of traders already appears eager to increase profit margins by raising the prices of different commodities. The government of Bangladesh however claims to be on to them, and has taken various initiatives to keep the market stable during the holy month. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed officials to increase surveillance across the country so that dishonest businessmen cannot make excessive profits. She particularly instructed the field-level administration to be on alert. The Commerce Ministry has said it will keep an eye on the traders so they cannot destabilize the market by creating any artificial crisis.  Even detectives from the law enforcement agencies under the Home Ministry have been instructed to keep their eyes open so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create an artificial crisis in Ramadan. Read: Dates, fruits to be more costly during Ramadan due to LC opening crisis In the past, it was noticed that traders increased the prices of goods several times before the start of market supervision ahead of Ramadan. Just before Ramadan, the demand for items like edible oil, sugar, pulses, chickpeas, spices, and so on increases. Traders take this opportunity and raise the prices of in-demand items. It is no different this time. “Ramadan is a few days away. Like last year, I have bought sugar, pulses, and chickpeas at a much higher price. Every year the same thing happens. There is also an upswing in the vegetable market,” Wahid Fakir, a resident of Bhatara New Market, told UNB. The prices of sugar, oil, ginger, onion, and other essential goods have all increased in the last week. Vegetables, fish, and meat prices are also going up. Although there is also no shortage of edible oil in the market, daily essentials are selling at an increased price rate every week. "This year we are already on alert from before. No one will be spared, if there is an artificial crisis in the market. We, the local administration, including the law enforcement agencies, and consumer rights protection directorate, will continue to monitor the market with mobile courts,” Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told UNB. Read: People forced to return home with bags half full due to higher prices of chicken, meat, fish “As preparation for Ramadan, I have had meetings with businessmen one to two months ago. That's when we asked them to increase imports. In particular, instructions have been given so that the banks open the LCs quickly for the import of food products,” he said. “The government has taken all kinds of necessary initiatives to keep the prices of goods under control during Ramadan. We have warned the traders about the preparations in advance this year. Controlling commodity prices was a challenging affair at this time of global crisis and rise in dollar rate,” he also said. “Despite this, dollars have been provided for import of all food products commonly used in Ramadan. Besides, the ministry has requested the NBR to reduce the duty and VAT to reduce the prices of commodities like sugar and edible oil,” said the minister. “In addition, we are taking several other programmes to control the prices of goods during Ramadan. Apart from the family card allocated for 1 crore families, sugar and chickpeas will be sold in truck-sales in Dhaka and divisional cities. NBR has also extended the time for import of rice by three more months." “Hopefully, the prices of goods will be stable during Ramadan. The government's preparation in this regard is good enough,” added Tipu Munshi. Read More: Have enough stock, no scope of price hike during Ramadan: Tipu Asked about the role of law enforcement agencies in keeping the market stable during Ramadan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, "The law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent the rise in the prices of goods.” “Detectives have already been instructed to keep an eye so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create any artificial crisis around Ramadan and make the market unstable. Several strict steps have been taken, including conducting mobile courts, to control the prices of consumer goods by suppressing syndicates,” he said. “Various strategies are being formulated to prevent artificial crises in the market and to take action against those who stockpile goods. Along with the police, the law enforcement agencies and consumer rights department, including RAB, will be active in the field, the intelligence surveillance will also be increased,” he also said. Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, “If there is an abnormal situation in the market, we can enforce the law. Every deputy commissioner has been told about this. They will monitor it very strictly. We will also monitor from here.” Read More: Make marginal profit in Ramadan, Munshi urges businessmen

Another police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) has been sent on compulsory retirement. Public Security Division under the Home Ministry issued a notification in this regard signed by its senior secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan on Tuesday. According to the notice, Md Munir Hossain, special superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been sent on compulsory retirement according to section 45 of Public Service Act, 2018. The order will come into effect immediately in public interest, the notification said. Read more: 2 Additional DIGs sent on compulsory retirement Md Munir Hossain, SP, was given attachment with the Police Headquarters as officer on Special Duty (OSD) from CID on July 19, 2011. Earlier, Md Ali Hossain Fakir, former commanding officer of Armed Police Battalion-3, given early retirement on November 16. Ali Hossain was last attached to Rajshahi Range Police. Three police officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SPs) were given compulsory retirement on October 18. Among the compulsorily retired SPs, Mohammad Shahidullah Chowdhury and Delwar Hossain Mia belong to the 12th batch of BCS police cadre and the other one Mirza Abdullahel Baki, a 15th batch officer of BCS police cadre. Read more: Three SPs sent on compulsory retirement Among them, Muhammad Shahidullah Chowdhury had been working as SP (TR) at Police headquarters, Md. Delwar Hossain Mia and Mirza Abdullahel Baki are working as Special Super (SS) in the CID. Two more police officers of the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and three SPs were sent on compulsory retirement on October 31 and October 18 respectively. Two police officers of the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIGs) were given compulsory retirement on October 31. According to the notifications separately issued on October 31, Md Alamgir Alam, Additional DIG of CID, and Md Mahbub Hakim, Additional DIG of Tourist Police, were given compulsory retirement according to section 45 of Public Service Act, 2018. Meanwhile, the government had also sent Additional DIG of CID Sheikh Omar Farooq and Commanding Officer (Superintendent of Police) of 6th APBN of Mahalchari, Khagrachari Mohammad Abdur Rahim on forced retirement on September 2 in last year 2021.

The Security Services Division of the Home Ministry has formed a four-member committee to probe the escaping of two death row convicts, also members of banned militant group Ansar al-Islam, from the premises of a Dhaka court on Sunday. The ministry issued a notification in this regard on Sunday (November 20). Read more: 2 militants who escaped from Dhaka court will be arrested any time soon: DB Chief The committee, headed by additional secretary (Prison sub-division) of the Security Services Division, has been asked to submit its report within seven working days, said the notification. On Sunday, two members of the banned militant outfit Ansar al-Islam, who were sentenced to death in Jagriti Publications publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan murder case, escaped from the premises of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court (Dhaka CMM Court). Read more: Five cops suspended over escape of 2 convicted militants The escapees are Md Abu Siddique Sohel alias Sakib alias Sajid alias Shahab and Moinul Hasan Shamim alias Samir alias Sifat alias Imran. Publisher Dipan, son of Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq of Dhaka University, was hacked to death in his office on the second floor of Aziz Supermarket at Shahbagh in Dhaka on October 31, 2015.

The Election Commission is likely to take its dispute over National Identity (NID) cards with the home ministry to President Md Abdul Hamid. Talking to reporters on Monday, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said the EC will soon send a letter to the president seeking his intervention in resolving the dispute. The government has recently decided to transfer to the home ministry the National Identity Registration wing that had been under the EC since 2006. The EC has objected to the take-over. Meanwhile, a new law is under way to bring the NID job under the Security Services of the home ministry. Earlier, the Cabinet division sent a letter was sent to the EC to hand over the NID services. The Election Commission wrote a counter letter highlighting the benefits of keeping the NID under its control. Since the government is moving towards making a new law the EC has decided to approach the president, said Alamgir. Read: Election Commission won’t favour any political party: Anisur Rahman He said, “There is no new step in this regard. As far as I know the Election Commission Officers Association had submitted an application which we said we will send to the President following the rules.” “We may also send a copy to the security department. That was the decision," he said. He said that the decision was taken 10-12 days ago. The Election Commission Officers Association submitted a memorandum to keep the National Identity Card (NID) registration wing under the EC authority rather than under the home ministry.  If it is shifted from the Election Commission (EC), the EC officials feel that the normal process of the election will be hampered. On October 23, the association submitted the memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal at the election building. Read: NID registration under Home Ministry: Cabinet approves draft act In response to another question, the Election Commissioner said, “NID is the government property. The law gave us responsibility. Now if the law wants to take it then there is nothing to stop us. However, if the government wants to take it, separate manpower and technical infrastructure will have to be created”. "It is definitely a cost issue for the government, there is a challenge as it is a time-consuming issue. We think that even if the government wants to take it, it will take time. It cannot take it so quickly. Because it will take a long time to move from one system to another system. Like the time it takes to pass a law in parliament. It will take a long time to actually transfer," he hinted.

Awami League MP Benzir Ahmed from Dhaka-20 (Dhamrai) has been appointed as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Home Affairs Ministry. Chief Whip of parliament Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury placed the proposal for reconstitution of the parliamentary watchdog, proposing Benzir Ahmed’s name as chief of the House body on Tuesday. Parliament later unanimously approved it. Awami League MP Shamsul Haque Tuku was chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the Home Ministry.  But he was elected the deputy speaker of parliament on Monday, following the demise of Fazle Rabbi Miah in July.  Read: PM participates in extended discussion in JS on global roots of local suffering Benazir Ahmed was first elected MP in the ninth parliament. Later in the eleventh Parliament he was again elected as lawmaker.  Today, the parliament nominated Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku as a member of the Business Advisory Committee, chairman of the Library Committee, member of the Petition Committee, member of the parliamentary committee on Rules of Procedure, and a member of the Privilege Committee of parliament.

An amount of Tk 28,781 crore has been proposed for the Public Security and Security Service divisions under the Home Ministry in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2022-23, up by Tk 1893 crore, from the outgoing fiscal year 2021-22. Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced the proposed budget while addressing budget speech in the National Parliament today (Thursday). Of the total allocation, Tk 24,594 crore has been allocated for the Public Security division, while the remaining Tk 4,187 crore for the Security Service division. These allocations include important state agencies providing security and emergency services such as the police, the Fire Service, etc.

Sylhet district unit BNP on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the home ministry demanding effective steps to trace the party’s leader M Ilias Ali who went missing from the capital a decade ago. Leaders and activists of the party submitted the memorandum through the district administration, marking 10 years of the alleged enforced disappearance of former MP Ilias Ali. BNP organising secretary Ilias Ali, along with his driver Ansar Ali, went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012, from the capital’s Banani area. Police later found his car near his home in the city's Mohakhali area. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.  Also read: Opposition being deprived of justice: BNP Law enforcers failed to find any clue about his whereabouts in the last 10 years though BNP leaders and his family members are still waiting for his return. A good number of BNP leaders and activists, led by Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury and general secretary Advocate Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, handed over the memorandum to the local deputy commissioner's office at noon. Later, in a brief address in front of the DC office, Abdul Qayyum said it is unfortunate that 10 years have passed since the disappearance of Ilias Ali, the most popular leader of greater Sylhet, but no effective initiative has been taken by the government to find him out. “It’s the responsibility of the government to ensure the security of any citizen of the country. If any citizen of the country goes missing, it also is the responsibility of the government to trace him/her out. Since the government has not taken any effective steps to return the missing leaders and activists, including M Ilyas Ali, we think that all the missing people are in the custody of the government,” he charged. Also read: Fakhrul seeks opposition parties’ unity to dislodge AL govt The BNP leader called upon the government to take sincere steps to ensure the safe return of Ilias Ali and all other missing leaders and activists in Sylhet to their families. Besides, all the BNP’s upazila and municipal units under Sylhet district submitted separate memorandums addressed to the home minister through their respective Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), as a part of their programme marking the day. The party units in the memorandum called for returning all the missing BNP leaders and activists, including M Ilias Ali, his driver Ansar Ali, Chhatra Dal leaders Iftekhar Ahmed Dinar, Junaid Ahmed, to their near and dear ones immediately. The memorandum also said the government cannot avoid the responsibility for the disappearance of any citizen. “So, we strongly demand the government to return popular public leader M Ilias Ali, his driver Ansar Ali, Chhatra Dal leader Iftekhar Ahmed Dinar and Junaid Ahmed unhurt,” said the memorandums.

The Law Ministry on Monday forwarded its opinion to the Home Ministry on an application seeking permission to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment. Law Minister Anisul Haque told reporters at the Secretariat that he sent the legal opinion on the application of the BNP chief’s family to the Home Ministry. Declining to elaborate, he said, “We’ve given our opinion on the application of Khaleda Zia’s brother, and sent it to the Home Ministry.” Also read: Khaleda’s treatment abroad: HC likely to hear petition Wednesday The minister said the Home Ministry will now send the file to the Prime Minister's Office for approval. “I can’t disclose it to you (journalists) now as I have to keep it secret until the Prime Minister sees it,” he said. He said the decision on the plea will be known once the Prime Minister clears it. CrPC Replying to a question, the Law Minister said there is no scope to reconsider the ‘’past and closed transactions’’ under the six-sub sections of 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC). Anisul said the explanation he gave earlier on the legal barrier to reconsider an application that was disposed of earlier under section 401 is lawful. “I think my explanation was right.” On December 5, the Law Minister said the government is assessing whether there is any legal option to allow BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. “As there’re many applications, including from lawyers, I think it’s appropriate to come to a well-thought-out decision after examining all aspects and whether there is any scope to do something in any way,” he added. Also read: Law will move on its own pace, Anisul says on Khaleda's treatment abroad Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. The BNP chief’s medical board members on November 28 said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 seeking permission to take her abroad for treatment. Though the government earlier twice turned down such applications, it is taking time to dispose of the fresh plea of the BNP chief’s family. On November 28, the Law Minister told parliament that Khaleda is now free as she is not in government custody. He also said as Khaleda was temporarily released under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure based on some conditions, including not leaving the country, there is no provision in the law to allow her to go abroad now until she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail. BNP leaders and pro-BNP lawyers, however, have long been arguing that the government has the unlimited authority to take any decision in this regard under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedures. The party has also been observing various programmes since November 25 demanding that the BNP chief be allowed to go abroad as there is no advanced cnetre in Bangladesh to treat her liver cirrhosis problem.

Some 304 people entered Bangladesh through Benapole in the last one week after the Home Ministry issued new criteria for entering the country on July 1. However, the number of people entering Bangladesh declined  significantly on Saturday, compared to Sunday and Thursday. After 302 people entered the country from India on Sunday and Thursday, only 2 entered on Saturday. Also read: Benapole to allow entries from India on 3 days a week Officer-in charge of Benapole Immigration Ahsan Habib confirmed the information to UNB. Besides, 56 people, both Bangladeshi and Indian nationals, went to the other side of the border from Bangladesh during the last one week, he informed. Also read: 3,350 Bangladeshis return through Benapole since Apr 26; 17 test Covid positive The Home Ministry on July 3 decided that stranded Bangladeshi nationals in India can enter the country through Benapole port on 3 days of the week, the days being Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Those looking to enter Bangladesh must carry with them an RT-PCR certificate (with a negative result) and NOC from the Bangladesh High Commission in India.

Stranded Bangladeshi nationals in India can enter the country through Benapole port on 3 days of the week, the days being Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. This directive of the Home Ministry reached Benapole Immigration in the early hours of Saturday. As a result, no one could enter the country on Saturday through Benapole, confirmed the officer-in charge of Benapole Immigration Ahsan Habib. Also read: 3,350 Bangladeshis return through Benapole since Apr 26; 17 test Covid positive “People can enter Bangladesh (both Bangladeshi and Indian) through Benapole Port only on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from now on,” the OC said. Those looking to enter Bangladesh must carry with them an RT-PCR certificate (with a negative result) and NOC from the Bangladesh High Commission in India, he added. Also read: Border with India to remain closed for another 14 days: Secretary Although no-one was allowed to enter on Saturday, 11 Indians and 2 Bangladeshis did go across, carrying the test certificates and NOCs from the Indian High Commissioner.