Home Minister
Home Minister inaugurates Viewer’s Gallery of BGB-BSF Joint Retreat Parade
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday inaugurated the Viewer’s Gallery of BGB-BSF Joint Retreat Parade in Panchagarh’s Banglabandha Zero Point.
During the inauguration, the Minister planted a tree on the gallery premises. Later, he witnessed a joint parade of Bangladesh’s BGB and India’s BSF administered by BGB’s Panchagarh Battalion (18 BGB).
The parade was an effort to bolster friendly relations and brotherhood between the people and increase trust between the border forces of the two countries.
Read: Militants’ involvement with CHT’s KNF group being investigated: Home Minister
After the parade, Asaduzzaman thanked BGB and BSF personnel for their efforts, distributed sweetmeat among them and took part in a photo session.
Welcome gifts were also exchanged between BGB and BSF members during the event.
Militants’ involvement with CHT’s KNF group being investigated: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said the involvement of militants with Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an armed group in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), is being investigated.
“Different groups in the CHT including KNF, Shantu Larmar's JSS, and UPDF are trying to destabilize the situation along the borders,” he told reporters after the inauguration of modern fire equipment turntable ladders at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters in Dhaka.
“We have engaged army and police forces in the three CHT districts. When necessary, police, BGB, Rab and army are taking action there as per need,” said the home minister.
Read: ‘We won’t interfere if BNP events are peaceful’: Home Minister
Regarding the turntable ladder, he said it will be able to extinguish fire up to 24 floors of a building.
He also termed the members of the fire service, who sacrificed their lives in Sitakunda depot fire, as ‘Agnibir’.
Govt rejects HRW statement over alleged crackdown on opposition
Human Rights Watch said on Monday that they were getting complaints that authorities and the ruling Awami League supporters were attacking opposition politicians and harassing them ahead of national elections in 2023.
But Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan categorically rejected the claims and said “it is nothing but mere propaganda” to tarnish the image of the government as well as the country.
“Such allegations are baseless. The allegations of mass arrests and police raids are not true,” he told UNB when reached for his response to the statement by the human rights group. "Nothing is happening like that."
The Home Minister said that police have some regular duties to follow and sometimes they visit homes of the citizens to inquire when they need to do so.
“Mostly the Special Branch of Police does this job. When they get reports that some people have gone missing, the members of the Special Branch visit their families to know the truth. It’s their routine work, not otherwise,” he said.
Read: HRW for quick probe into Mohibullah’s killing
“The allegations of mass arrests and police raids are a propaganda by BNP and Jamaat,” he said.
In a New York-datelined statement, the HRW said that Bangladesh authorities should respect the rule of law and protect political opposition supporters’ right to freedom of association, and peaceful assembly.
It said mass arrests and police raids of opposition party members’ homes raise serious concerns about violence and intimidation ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly said that Bangladesh is a mature democracy capable of conducting elections and a peaceful transition of power, but instead previous polls have been marked by violence, attacks on the opposition, and voter intimidation,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in the statement.
“These recent cases of political attacks and arrests set an ominous tone for the upcoming parliamentary elections.”
It said at least four people have reportedly died and hundreds have been injured in clashes between police, supporters of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League, since August 22, 2022, when the BNP staged a series of protests over fuel and commodity price increases.
Read: Rayhan’s arrest violates free speech rights: HRW
The statement said the authorities have filed mass cases against BNP supporters following such clashes. It echoed a BNP statement that at least 20,000 cases have been filed against its supporters, in many cases with the accused unnamed.
“The use of criminal complaints against large numbers of “unknown” people is a common abusive practice in Bangladesh, allowing the police to intimidate and threaten virtually anyone with arrest, to repeatedly re-arrest detainees even though they are not the named accused in the cases, and to thwart bail requests,” the statement reads.
Meenakshi said that Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies are under increased scrutiny following US human rights sanctions and with parliamentary elections on the horizon.
“Diplomats in Bangladesh should raise concerns publicly and privately that such repression threatens the conditions for a free and fair election,” she said.
Home Minister: Will complain to UN over Myanmar’s mortar shelling if needed
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said the government is trying to resolve the Myanmar issue peacefully and diplomatically but a complaint will be lodged with the United Nations regarding mortar shelling at the border if necessary.
The minister said this in response to journalists after attending a programme at Ahsania Mission in Dhaka today.
He said the Foreign Ministry has warned Myanmar again and again but they didn’t keep their promise. “We have lodged a strong protest against casualties from Myanmar’s mortar shelling on Friday at Tombru border,” he added.
Also read: Do more to cut Myanmar military's revenue, arms supply: UN to countries
“Myanmar’s internal conflicts should remain within its border but their forces are entering the Bangladesh border time and again and injuring Bangladeshi nationals,” said Asaduzzaman.
He said Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) is continuously being contacted about this issue and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has remained strictly alert to prevent illegal entry of Rohingyas.
On Friday night, a 17-year-old-Rohingya boy named Mohammad Iqbal was killed and five others were injured as a mortar shell fired by the Myanmar army exploded at the Zero Point Rohingya Camp close to the international border in Tombru, Bandarban.
The deceased and injured were all residents of the Zero Point Rohingya Camp, known as the camp that is closest to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, in no man’s land.
Also read: Rohingya boy killed, 5 injured as Myanmar steps up shelling along border
Four mortar shells landed in succession at the Rohingya camp around 8pm.
Earlier, an indigenous youth named Anganthowai Tanchangya was grievously injured in a landmine explosion along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Friday noon. Locals said it is the Myanmar army that has mined the area.
Twelve mortar shells have been fired by the Myanmar army into Bangladesh territory so far.
Warned Myanmar against firing shots towards Bangladesh, says Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said that the government has asked Myanmar to refrain from firing shots towards the Bangladesh border.
“A few mortar shells landed on the Bangladeshi side from Myanmar recently. We’ve lodged strong protests from every level of the government against the incident. We’ve also sent a message to our Ambassador to Myanmar through the Foreign Ministry. I hope Myanmar will show restraint soon,” said the Minister.
The home minister made the remarks at a seminar organized by Bangladesh Mahila Oikya Parishad at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of National Museum as the chief guest.
Also read: Myanmar envoy summoned: Dhaka shares “deep concerns” with Naypyidaw over border violation
Replying to a question, the minister said that he doesn’t want to say anything about Babul Akhter’s allegations until the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) completes its probe.
“PBI’s probe will determine whether the allegations made by Babul are true or not. We have trust in PBI. They always conduct thorough investigations. All confusion will be cleared once the PBI investigation is completed,” said Kamal.
Former Superintendent of Police (SP) Babul Akhtar lodged a complaint with a court against six police officers along with PBI Chief Banaj Kumar Majumder for alleged custodial torture.
Also read: No more refugees from Myanmar this time: FM
The other five accused in the case are PBI Chittagong Metro Police Superintendent Naima Sultana and District Police Superintendent Nazmul Hasan, PBI Inspectors AK Mohiuddin Salim, Santosh Chakma, and Enayet Kabir.
“Reintroducing machine readable passports for Bangladeshis in US to be reviewed”
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said the government will review the issue of reintroducing machine readable passports (MRPs) for Bangladeshi citizens in the US for a certain period alongside the existing e-passports.
He was speaking at an interactive session with officers of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Friday afternoon (US time).
The home minister is now leading a Bangladesh delegation to the United States to join the third United Nations Chief of Police Summit (UNCOPS) and other programs.
He also said e-visa will be introduced soon, according to the Bangladesh Mission in Washington.
“We are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) very soon and we hope to be able to start issuing e-visa within six months from that,” he said.
Asaduzzaman Khan said the distribution of National Identity (NID) cards has been handed over to the Home Ministry at the directives of the Prime Minister so that all citizens of the country can avail the facilities.
Also read: Home Minister, IGP in NY to join UNCOPS
“Coordinated approach needed among UN Police, agencies and national authorities”
Bangladesh has urged the United Nations (UN) to address the root causes and drivers of fragility in the conflict affected countries and extend support to the national actors in developing their capacities to deliver basic services, create economic opportunities and implement necessary governance reforms.
“A coherent and coordinated approach is needed between all actors including UN Police, UN country team, agencies and relevant national authorities,” said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
He was speaking at the high-level meeting on “Fostering sustainable peace and development through United Nations policing” held during the third UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2022) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday (September 1, 2022).
Read:UN lauds Bangladesh's good practices in countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism
"As a proud member of the UN Police since 1989, we reiterate our commitment to contribute to any UNPOL initiative for the promotion of sustainable peace and development” he said.
Mentioning that security and development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, he said UN peace operations should strive for a balanced and coherent approach for maintaining peace and security in order to facilitate development activities.
The Home Minister emphasized on the role of UN policing in the security sector reform and strengthening rule of law as per mandate.
He underscored the importance of Specialized Police Teams (SPTs).
The minister appreciated the efforts to increase the number of women in police deployments and senior positions in UN peacekeeping.
He also expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute competent female police officers and well-equipped police units for furthering this goal.
UN lauds Bangladesh's good practices in countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism
UN Under-Secretary-General for Counterterrorism Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov has appreciated the good practices of Bangladesh to counter-terrorism and prevent violent extremism.
Voronkov invited Bangladesh to share their story of success in the upcoming high-level meeting of the heads of counter-terrorism institutions of the Member States scheduled to take place in June 2023.
Recognizing Bangladesh as an important partner of the United Nations in its efforts to counter global terrorism, the Under-Secretary-General also expressed his readiness to extend necessary cooperation in relevant fields including financing of terrorism, nuclear terrorism, capacity building and technical assistance.
Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said the current government of Bangladesh, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, maintains a policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism in its all forms and manifestation.
He made the remarks during his bilateral meetings with Gambian Interior Minister Seyaka Sonko and UN Under-Secretary-General for Counterterrorism Voronkov held at the UN headquarters on Wednesday.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 3rd UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2022).
Bangladesh’s Home Minister led the delegation accompanied by Inspector General of Police, Dr. Benazir Ahmed and officials of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, officials from Police Headquarters and Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations, said the Bangladesh Mission in the UN on Thursday.
During meeting with Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Counterterrorism, the Home Minister shared the various initiatives and policies undertaken by the government of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and sought cooperation from the office of Counter-terrorism in the areas of mutual interest in future.
Home Minister, IGP in NY to join UNCOPS
Bangladesh delegation led by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has reached New York to join the UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) to be held at the UN headquarters from August 31 to September 1.
As a top troop and police-providing country, Bangladesh is looking forward to contributing to reinforcing international peace, security and development architecture.
Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations (UN) received the Home Minister in New York.
Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed will also join the Summit.
Read: IGP gets US visa to join UN police summit
UNCOPS 2022 will bring together ministers, chiefs of police, and senior representatives of regional and professional policing organisations to UN headquarters to discuss how the UN and member states can work together to enhance global security, address cross-border threats, and strengthen the performance of police who serve in UN peace operations.
This event will also feature the UN Policewoman of the Year Award.
Army to join drive against terrorism, drugs in Rohingya camps: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said that the army will take part in the joint operations to be launched in the Rohingya camps to control terrorist activities and spread of drugs.
The minister said this emerging from the fifth meeting of the ‘National Committee on Forcibly Displaced Rohingya People’s Coordination, Management and Law and Order Situation’ at the Secretariat.
“We’re witnessing frequent terrorist activities inside the Rohingya camps. Bloodshed is going on in the camps without any reason. Sometimes even drugs from Myanmar are finding their ways to the camps. That’s why we’ve decided to conduct information-based joint operations to put an end to the menaces,” said Asaduzzaman.
“Currently, Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rab, Ansar and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) members are working in the camps. We’ve decided that from now on, the military will also join hands with these forces and carry out joint drives to make the Rohingya camps secure for its inhabitants,” he added.
He informed that the government sometimes fail to identify Rohingya criminals because they use Myanmar’s network systems.
“We’re trying our best so that Rohingyas use Bangladeshi network systems. This will make the identification of Rohingya criminals easier,” said the minister.
The home minister also said that the government is setting up a system which will ensure constant surveillance of the Rohingya people.
Read: Requested US, UK, Japan to take Rohingyas from Bangladesh: FM
“The construction of security walls around the camps is in its final stage. Building of patrol roads is going to be finished soon. We’ll also build watchtowers at various points inside the camps so that Rohingyas can’t escape our eyes,” Kamal said.
About the government’s initiative to control the birth in the camps, the minister said that the process to formulate a SOP is underway.
“The health ministry and the Islamic Foundation are jointly working on this issue. Volunteers, Imams of local mosques and NGO workers are also going door to door and making the Rohingyas aware of the benefits of birth control,” said Asaduzzaman.
On controlling the movement of drugs, the minister said that registration of fishing trawlers that ply on the Naf river is going on.
Replying to a question, he said that the government is discussing the Rohingya repatriation issue with Myanmar.
“We’re trying to repatriate the Rohingyas to Myanmar from day one. Both our foreign minister and I talked to Myanmar’s then leader Aung San Suu Kyi personally about the issue. Each time we go to the discussion table with a hope that the matter will be resolved soon. I hope that we’ll be able to find a solution to the problem within a very short time,” said the minister.
Replying to another question, he said that the government is yet to receive proposals from countries that are interested in relocating Rohingyas.
“We’re reviewing the countries that have showed interest in the relocation of the Rohingyas. The foreign ministry is working on it. We’ll request the interested countries to take as much Rohingyas as possible,” said the minister.
At present, Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya people in camps located in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char island.