Bangladesh has expressed extreme disappointment over US State Department’s unsubstantiated claim of deaths of at least two persons, and said such “baseless claim” can fuel the violence and undermine Bangladesh government’s efforts. “Use of unverified information to make such baseless claims can fuel violence and undermine Bangladesh government’s efforts to maintain a peaceful environment to allow non-violent protests or movement,” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin said today. Student violence: Is US State Department being misled by rumours over claim of two deaths? She said the foreign ministry is “extremely disappointed” by the response of Mathew Miller, Spokesperson of the US State Department, to a question during a regular press briefing on July 15, 2024 (Washington time), where he made unsubstantiated claims of at least two deaths in the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh. The foreign ministry spokesperson said freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of democracy, and the government remains steadfast to uphold those rights of the citizens while also safeguarding public property and order. She said violence does not have any place in democracy and politics. “We have recently witnessed with horror an attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump during a peaceful rally in Pennsylvania, USA,” Sabrin said. She said they are “deeply concerned” by the incident and such violence runs against the core values of democracy. “The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh have separately condemned the attack and sighed relief learning that Trump was safe and recovering,” she said. To uphold democracy and democratic values, the foreign ministry spokesperson said they are committed to working together with the US. Quota reform protests: Students block several points of Dhaka-Barishal Highway When specific information on the State Department’s claim was sought from the US Embassy in Dhaka, its acting spokesperson Leonard Hill told UNB this morning that the statement was “monitoring reports” that included the injuries and deaths. “We are always looking for the most accurate information and welcome journalists’ work to uncover the truth,” he said.

Though there is no report in Bangladesh media or from law enforcement agencies regarding any death during the current student protests, the US Department of State says otherwise raising a question whether it fell prey to rumours seen on social media platforms. "So we are aware of and are monitoring reports of widespread student protests in Dhaka and around Bangladesh that have killed two and attacked and injured hundreds," US Department of State Spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a regular media briefing in Washington on Monday, July 15. How a night of utter mayhem unfolded at JU When specific information was sought from the US Embassy in Dhaka, its acting Spokesperson Leonard Hill told UNB on Tuesday morning that the statement was “monitoring reports” that included the injuries and deaths. "We are always looking for the most accurate information and welcome journalists’ work to uncover the truth," he said. Quota reform: Protesters announce their Tuesday programme Spokesperson Miller said the "freedom of expression and peaceful assembly" are essential building blocks of any thriving democracy. "We condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this violence," he said during the briefing. Despite BCL cranking up violence to intimidate students, quota reformists not cowering Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the government would not allow anyone to cause instability in the country, noting that there is an effort to turn the anti-quota movement into an anti-state and anti-government movement by exploiting the sentiments of young students. “The government will not allow this. This government is a very strong government. No political evil force will be allowed to destabilise the country by playing with the sentiments of young students,” he told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hasan said anti-state slogans were chanted from the quota movement on Sunday night. “Through the Liberation War in 1971, this country gained independence, sacrificing the blood of 30 lakh martyrs. Here, chanting slogans in favour of razakars are anti-state.” “It is clear that political evil forces have entered the quota movement, including BNP and Jamaat, who want to destabilise the country, and some of their planted people are leading it,” Hasan said.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have arrested three people including  ringleader of a fake notes making gang with fake notes worth Tk 1.20 crore from the city’s Pallabi area. The arrestees are ringleader Md Sogir Hossain, 47, of Barguna, his two associates Selina Aktar Pakhi, 20, of Barishal and Md Ruhul Amin, 33, of Jhalakathi. According to a media release from Rab Headquarters, tipped off, a team of Rab-4 conducted a drive in Pallabi area of Mirpur on Monday night. Read: Youths ‘snatch arrestee’ from police in Barishal During the drive, fake notes worth Tk 1.20 crore, fake notes making equipment, five mobile phone sets, two laptops and a hand air drier were seized from their possession. They planned to make huge amount of fake currency targeting the trade fairs and various festivals in remote areas during winter, said the release. In primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to their involvement in making fake notes in different parts of the country including Dhaka and Barishal. Read: Cox’s Bazar rape: another accused arrested Sogir was arrested in 2017 by the law enforcement agencies with fake notes. After spending years in jail, he started making fake notes again in 2018. His associates Ruhul Amin and Selina used to sell those notes through 7-8 other gang others. Selina’s husband is also a member of this gang who is currently serving jail, said the release.

The High Court on Tuesday said the law enforcement agencies should refrain from making contradictory statements on the alleged gang rape of a female tourist in Cox’s Bazar in the interest of fair investigation. Such statements during the investigation into the case are undesirable, said the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman  while hearing a writ petition seeking judicial probe into the incident that occurred on December 24. Read: Writ seeks judicial inquiry into Cox's Bazar gang-rape The bench observed that even when truth is revealed people think differently because of such statements from different departments of law enforcement force.  The HC kept the writ ‘stand over’ and asked the deputy attorney general Bipul Bagmar to convey to the law enforcement agencies its message that they should refrain from providing different statements. “The law enforcement agencies can cooperate with each other in the interest of investigation but it would be better if the investigative officer keep mum about any cases during the investigation,” said HC. It also said that the journalists will seek information as part of their job and that’s why they can’t be blamed. Filing the writ on Monday Advocate Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiya Russel said “The statements of Rab and police are inconsistent and they gave different statements before the media. That’s why a judicial investigation is sought in the case.” The writ also sought a rule seeking directives of proper legal steps against the culprits involved in the crime. Read: Cox’s Bazar rape: another accused arrested  Secretaries to the home ministry, civil aviation and tourism ministry, Inspector General of Police, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar and Superintendent of Police were made respondents to the rule. On the night of December 22 a gang led by its leader Ashik abducted the woman and allegedly raped her in two places of the resort town. Law enforcement agencies have since then arrested Ashik and five others in the case even if the investigation is going on.

The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to explain why the letter sent by the Health Ministry to stop law enforcement agencies from raiding public and private hospitals should not be declared illegal.

BNP on Sunday demanded the government give army and other law enforcement agencies the responsibility for transporting the 'food items' to ensure adequate supply of goods across the country.