Shamsuzzaman Shams, a reporter of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, was picked up allegedly by a law enforcement agency from his Savar residence early Wednesday (March 29, 2023). Witnesses and family members said 16 Criminal Investigation Department (CID) members in plainclothes reached in front of Shamsuzzaman’s residence in Ambagan area adjacent to Jahangirnagar University around 4:30 am. Later, seven-eight of them entered the house of the journalist and picked him up. They took him to Savar Bottola area where they have their ‘sehri’ at Nurjahan Hotel. Chief security officer of the university Sudipta Shaheen, and a security guard were also with them at the hotel. Read more: Journalist arrested under Digital Security Act in Khulna They also seized a laptop, two mobile phone sets and a portable hard disc after searching the room of Shamsuzzaman. Shamsuzzaman along with his mother has been living on the ground floor of the building in Ambagan area for the past one year. He is also the younger brother of Rabiul Karim, an assistant police commissioner who died in the Holey Artisan café attack in 2016. At 4:45 am, the CID members again went to the house of Shamsuzzaman along with him. Sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station Md Raju and local journalist Ariful Islam were present there. Read more: Satkhira journalist, earlier ‘picked up by law enforcers’, shown arrested During their stay at the house for 5-7 minutes, Shamsuzzaman was asked to take some clothes. Later they again left the house with Shamsuzzaman. A police officer also told owner of the house Ferdous Alam that Shamsuzzaman wrote a report against the state and he was detained for interrogation. Azad Rahman, additional superintendent of CID (media), said “I have no idea about it and there is no information of any case filed against him.” Read More: ‘Strong possibility head injury led to brain haemorrhage, no sign of high blood pressure’: RMCH director on Jasmine Sultana’s death Md Quamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, said he was not informed about the detention of Shamsuzzaman. “Investigation is on to find out Shamsuzzaman,” he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (January 02, 2023) asked the police of Bangladesh to make it the “people’s police” by working tirelessly with integrity and humanity. “I hope that every member of the Bangladesh Police will carry out their duties with the spirit and patriotism of the great Liberation War. I believe that you will work tirelessly to make Bangladesh Police as the 'people's police' as expected by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib by carrying out duties with honesty, devotion and humanity,” she said. The PM said this in a message issued on the occasion of Police Week 2023, which is set to kick off on Tuesday (January 03, 2023). Talking about the successes of Bangladesh Police, she said police have achieved successes in the campaign against militancy and terrorism. “They continue to play an effective role in ensuring safe roads and ensuring the protection of state assets, including eradication of drugs, cybercrime, rumours, money laundering and human trafficking,” she added. Read: ‘Police now a symbol of dependability and confidence’ Hasina said Bangladesh has been able to maintain communal harmony thanks to the support of police, administration and other forces. “Our policemen have earned great respect and dignity in the United Nations peacekeeping missions by going beyond the country’s border,” she said. She recalled the contribution of the police in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the policemen risked their lives to fight the coronavirus and have played an unprecedented role in the services towards the people. Focusing on her government’s steps taken during 1996-2001 and 2009-till now for the wellbeing of the law enforcement agency, the PM said the Awami League government has done everything necessary for the welfare of the police.   “In Digital Bangladesh, we are committed to expanding technology-based policing services,” she said. Read: Police kept the bombs in BNP office: Fakhrul She said the AL government has recruited manpower, creating the necessary number of new posts in the police organogram in the last 14 years since the formation of the government in 2009. Besides, her government also formed a good number of ranges including Industrial Police, Tourist Police, Naval Police, Police Bureau of Investigation and Anti-Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, and Metropolitan Unit, Cyber Police Centre, Battalion, In-Service Training Centre, Police Station, Investigation Centre, Police Outpost and the 999 units to render the national emergency service, she added. The Prime Minister said they have reintroduced the rank badge of the IGP and launched service desks for women, children, elderly and disabled people. “We’re providing the police services to the doorsteps of the people through beat policing,” she added. On the occasion of the Police Week, she extended her sincere greetings and congratulation to all the members of Bangladesh Police. Hasina wished all the programmes of 'Police Week 2023' a success. Read More: Keep serving the people to sustain public trust: PM Hasina urges police

The Election Commission on Saturday will hold a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all 64 districts ahead of the Zilla Parishad election and the next general election. Zilla Parishad election will be held on October 17 while people will cast their vote in the national election to be held in December 2023 or January 2024. The meeting will be held on Saturday  at the Election Commission auditorium, said an EC circular signed by its deputy secretary Atiar Rahman. Read: Next Election Commission: 322 names proposed to search committee published EC joint secretary SM Asaduzzaman said that chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal shall preside over the meeting while other commissioners will also attend the meeting. The Commission secretariat asked all DCs and SPs of the country to attend the meeting in their circular. The Commission has already unveiled its action plan for holding the 12th parliamentary polls.

The United States has said the sanctions imposed on individuals at the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were not meant for punishment as it was done to alert the law enforcement agency. Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque made the remarks on Sunday quoting US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller after their meeting at the Secretariat. The Agriculture Minister conveyed the outgoing US envoy that it is very unfortunate to impose sanctions on the officials of the law enforcement agency, according to a PID handout. Read: Shirin Sharmin a "role model, inspiration" for women leaders: Miller The Agriculture Minister said the US side appreciated Bangladesh for successfully combating the militants. Their idea is that in some cases human rights have been violated which needs to be improved, said the minister, adding that they are hopeful of improvement to that end. "I’ve told them that the human rights situation in our country is good. There were no incidents of human rights violation. In some places, law enforcement agency might have made mistakes, for which 190 Rab officers have been punished,” Razzaque said. The Ambassador assured that he would discuss the matter at the higher level of his government after his return to the United States so that the sanctions could be lifted soon. During the farewell meeting, the two sides discussed agriculture, economy, global and regional issues and recent US sanctions. Highlighting the significant success of the country's agricultural production, they both said there is a deep relationship between Bangladesh and the United States in the field of agriculture.  Read: Human trafficking has no place in world: Miller The Agriculture Minister said the USA has been instrumental in developing the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in Bangladesh. “Bangladesh has achieved tremendous success in agricultural production in the last 50 years.” Ambassador Miller said agricultural trade between the two countries has increased significantly. Bangladesh is now the 26th largest market for agricultural products in the United States. In the days ahead, relations and cooperation in the agricultural sector will further be increased, said the US envoy.

Bangladesh Police have signed an agreement with JSC Russian Helicopters to procure two MI-171A2 helicopters, to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the law enforcement agency and ensuring better public safety. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed and Director General of JSC Russian Helicopters Andrey Boginskiy signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations on Friday, according to a media release of Police headquarters. Read: Police receive final approval to procure 2 Russian helicopters Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan witnessed the signing ceremony as the chief guest, while Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mustafa Kamal Uddin, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytsky, Additional IGPs, and other officials were present. On October 27, Bangladesh Police received the final approval from the cabinet committee on public purchase (CCPP) to procure two Russian helicopters. On October 6, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) gave in principle its approval to the proposal. Read:Police to get 2 advanced helicopters As per the proposal, the Bangladesh Police Directorate will procure the Russian Mi-171A2 model helicopters from Russian firm JSC Russian Helicopters under a G2G contract at a cost of Euro 42.60 million, equivalent to Tk 428.12 crore. On February 10 this year, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bangladesh Police and helicopter manufacturer JSC Russian Helicopters for the purchase of helicopters on a government-to-government (G2G) basis.

A total of  6,206 policemen were infected with coronavirus across the country while performing duties until Sunday.   “Among the total infected policemen, 2,767 have made full recovery until Sunday morning,” said AKM Kamrul Ahsan, public relations officer, Police headquarters.   Besides, 16 cops and one civilian member of the law enforcement agency died of COVID-19 till Sunday, he added.