The government of Bangladesh has appointed Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Habibur Rahman as the new commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Read: US Ambassador holds meeting with DMP Commissioner  A gazette notification was issued in this regard by the Home Ministry's Public Security Division on Wednesday (September 20, 2023). The order will be effective immediately, the notification said.  Read: Crime in the capital 'under control': DMP Commissioner

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP have started gathering in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office since Friday morning to attend their grand rally. Defying senior leaders’ instructions, several thousand activists thronged Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area on Thursday night and stayed there overnight. Visiting the rally venue around 10:30 am on Friday, the UNB correspondent saw thousands of party leaders and followers from different parts of the city arriving in processions. Also read: BNP gears up for Friday's anti-govt rally amid fear, speculations Carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders, they were shouting anti-government slogans. Roads and alleys stretching from Bijoynagar to Nayapaltan were crowded with BNP activists, halting traffic in the area. Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checking by law enforcement agencies at the entry points of the capital.  The party has already set up a big stage on nine trucks, rolled out red carpets, and installed loudspeakers. Also read: Ground for grand rally of Awami League's associate organisations is being ready Two separate stages have also been erected for the cultural activists and journalists. Artistes from the BNP's cultural body are performing patriotic songs to keep the crowds invigorated under the scorching sun and they will continue till 12 pm.  BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units are organizing the rally to press home the opposition’s one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. The rally is scheduled to formally begin at 2 pm after Juma prayers.  Also read: Over 500 leaders, activists arrested in Dhaka ahead of grand rally: BNP BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the programme as the chief guest and announce their next course of action to mount pressure on the current government to accept their one-point demand. Apart from BNP, 37 like-minded political parties and alliances are also going to arrange separate rallies in different city areas to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next election under a neutral government. Besides, three associate bodies of the ruling Awami League—Jubo League, Swechchasebak League and Chhatra League—are also scheduled to hold a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque which is 1.7 km away from the BNP’s rally at Nayapaltan. The rallies of the ruling and opposition parties were scheduled to be held on Thursday, but they rescheduled their programmes for Friday as Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities did not allow them to use their chosen venues on a workday for the sake of avoiding public suffering. Also read: BNP, AL associate bodies get permission for rallies at Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram on conditions Political analysts think it will be a daunting task for the law enforcers to maintain peace and fend off any untoward incident as both the opposition and the ruling parties will hold their programmes at short distances and at the same time. All eyes are on the BNP rally as there are speculations that the party may announce non-stop action programmes to force the Awami League government to step down. On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave BNP and Awami League’s three associate bodies permission to hold their rallies at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mukarram respectively on 23 conditions. The police authorities asked BNP to limit their rally from Kakrail’s Nightingale crossing to Rajarbagh Police Hospital, while the AL associate bodies have to restrict their rally from Mahanagar Natya Mancha to Muktangan.  

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has no such objection to the BNP’s two-day marches in the capital, but they suggested changing the route of Tuesday’s programme, said party’s publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee. “We discussed with the DMP commissioner the march programmes of our one-point movement. They have no such objection. We sought their cooperation. We hope they will cooperate with us,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks on Sunday after a BNP delegation’s meeting with DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq at his Bailey Road office. Not possible to go to polls under AL: BNP tells EU delegation Anee said the DMP authorities have suggested changing the route of Tuesday’s march programme to avoid the road in front of the Planning Ministry. “We’ll take a decision on it in consultation with our senior leaders.” Besides, he said they also talked about BNP’s scheduled 'youth rally' in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office on July 22.   Asked whether the DMP gave BNP verbal permission to hold the march programmes, the BNP leader said, “Actually we’ve informed them (DMP). During the table discussion orally, we sought their cooperation and they’ll cooperate with us.” He said their party has a team of volunteers who will work responsibly at each spot to hold the programmes peacefully. EU Election Exploratory Mission holds meeting with BNP “We’re going to hold our programmes peacefully as we want to intensify the movement by involving people,” Anee said. Asked if there are any instructions on using the loudspeakers, he said the police authorities have requested them to conduct the campaign on social media instead of using the loudspeakers. Replying to another question, the BNP leader said their party will come up with rallies, mass processions, mass hunger strikes and other tougher programmes to force the government to accept their one-point demand. Earlier on July 12, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced a ‘one-point’ movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government. Countdown begins for govt's downfall, says BNP Leader Rizvi  As part of the first programme to realise the one-point demand, he also announced a two-day countrywide march programme for July 18 and 19. On July 18, the BNP leader said the road march will be held in all metropolitan cities and districts across the country to realise one-point demand while the same programme will be observed in Dhaka stretching from Gabtali to Bahadur Shah Park in the old part of Dhaka from 10am to 4pm. Besides, he said the party will also march on July 19 from Uttara’s Abdullahpur to Jatrabari from 10am to 4pm.  Apart from the BNP, 36 other like-minded political parties also announced the one-point movement and similar programmes to press home their demand to hold the next parliament elections under a non-party government.  

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained seven people, including security guards, several hours after snatching Tk 11.25 crore from a private security agency’s vehicle in Turag area of Dhaka’s Uttara on Thursday morning. Additional Commissioner (DB) of the DMP Harun-ur-Rashed told UNB that based on information, the detectives detained them, including security guards from Khilkhet in the evening. The detectives also recovered most of the robbed amount but he did not mention the recovered amount. Read more: Tk 11.25 crore robbed from pvt security agency vehicle in Dhaka’s Uttara officer of the DB, preferring anonymity, said that they recovered Tk 9 crore, out of Tk 11.25 crore, and also seized the micro bus, which was used in committing the mugging incident.Shariful Islam, inspector (Investigation) of Turag Police Station, said that the incident happened while a private security company’s vehicle with Tk 11.25 crore – of Dutch Bangla Bank Ltd – was going towards Savar EPZ area to deposit the money at the bank’s ATM booths at around 7:30 am. At Uttara Sector-16, a group of eight armed people stopped the vehicle and took away the money at gunpoint, he said, adding that police are raiding nearby places to recover the money.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) says it has arrested the Nayeb-e-Amir of the militant group Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya from Sayedabad area of Dhaka. The arrestee was identified as Mohibullah alias “Bholar Shayekh”. Acting on a tip-off, a team of CTTC unit conducted a drive at Sayedabad bus terminal and arrested Mohibullah with two mobile phone sets and a laptop on Tuesday evening, CTTC unit chief Md Asaduzzaman said at a press briefing held at DMP media centre today. When briefing, Asaduzzaman said Mohibullah used to deliver sermons and inspire members of the militant group after taking them into the hill districts. His main target was to psychologically prepare the new recruits for “jihad” after misinterpreting religious scripture, the CTTC chief said. After living in the Chattogram Hill Tracts region for some time, Mohibullah returned to Dhaka and carried out different activities including intensifying communication through encrypted messaging app, he said. Read more: 3 more members of new militant group Jamatul Ansar held in N'ganj Mohibullah also had a number of meetings with top leaders of militant groups for strengthening activities in Dhaka, Sylhet and Kishoreganj. He also used to go to madrasas in Hathazari of Chattogram district, said Asaduzzaman. Mohibullah was also an active member of the banned extremist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad Bangladesh (HuJI-B) when he was a student of a madrasa in Hathazari and took “jihadi training” with other members of HuJI-B. Read more: Five suspected members of new militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar held  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said a three-tier security has been taken in and around the Ekushey Book Fair venue. The DMP commissioner said this while talking to reporters  after visiting the book fair venue at Suhrawardy Udyan on Tuesday afternoon. Read more: Ekushey Book Fair to span entire February again after two years He said there is no specific threat to anyone centering the  book fair. “However, if any author or publisher feels insecurity, we will keep a close eye on him/her,” he added. CCTV cameras have been installed at the fair venue. Besides, 1500 police personnel will be deployed to ensure the overall security of the fair. Read more: DMP bans gathering, carrying of arms around JS He also said that they have made special arrangements so that visitors can easily enter the book fair. There will be separate gates for entering and exiting the fair and the visitors will be checked by the archway and metal detectors, added the DMP chief. There will be parking arrangements at the fair venue, he said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 76 people in separate drives in the capital on charges of selling and consuming drugs in 24 hours till 6 am on Wednesday. During the drives, 11,303  yaba pills, 195 grams of heroin, 29 bottles of Phensidyle and 19.130 kg of cannabis were recovered from the possessions of the arrestees. Read more: 60 arrested in DMP’s anti-narcotics drive As part of the DMP’s regular anti-drug drive, Detective Branch (DB) and local police raided on various areas in the capital from Tuesday 6 am to 6 am on Wednesday and recovered the drugs. total of 59 cases were registered with local police stations against the arrested people under the Narcotics Control Act.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed ban on carrying all kinds of weapons, explosives, other harmful substances and holding rallies around the Jatiya Sangsad and adjacent areas from Wednesday midnight ahead of the 21th session of the 11th Parliament   The 21th session of the 11th Parliament will begin Thursday.  DMP imposed the restrictions to ensure undisrupted movement during the parliament session, according to a notification signed by DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq.  Read more: Jamaat men to be brought to justice for attacking police: DMP Commissioner The roads and areas under restrictions are: From Mohakhali crossing on Mymensingh Road to Banglamotor crossing via Old Airport, from Western corner of Banglamotor Link Road to Hotel Sonargaon Road to SAARC Fountain, from the eastern end of Panthapath to Farmgate via Green Road link road, from Shyamoli crossing  to junction of Dhanmondi-18 (old-27) road, from Rokeya Sarani link road to old 9th division crossing to Bijoy Sarani Parjatan crossing, from the east end of Indira road to west end of Manik Mia Avenue, the restricted area of the Jatiya Sangsad and all the roads and lanes in the area.  The restrictions will be in force until the parliament session ends.  Read more: Metro Rail: DMP to provide security till specialised unit is formed  

BNP has finally got the permission to hold the rally at Golapbagh ground in Dhalpur of the city tomorrow (Saturday) from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain disclosed the matter to the media after a meeting with Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Harun Or Rashid on Friday noon. Earlier, a two-member BNP delegation consisting of AZM Zahid Hossain and law affairs secretary Kayser Kamal went to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) office to try to end the impasse over the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka. Read more: 205 BNP leaders, activists sued over crude bomb blasts in Barishal The DB chief also assured the delegation of ensuring security measures at the venue and asked to take preparations to hold the rally in Golapbagh ground, said AZM Zahid. The delegation wanted to hold the rally at Dhalpur ground or any other ground in Dhaka south city. So, Dhaka's divisional rally will to be held at Golapbagh ground tomorrow. Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas have been shown arrested in a case filed with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash that left one dead and several injured. “They have been arrested in the case filed under the Explosive Substance Act at Paltan police station on Thursday after questioning,” said Harun Or Rashid Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at a press briefing in the capital Friday. To decide their next course of action regarding the detention of two top leaders of the party by detectives, the leaders of the BNP standing committee have sat for an online meeting that started at 11:40am. Read more: Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension Meanwhile, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the most senior member of the BNP's standing committee, was scheduled to address a conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office at 3pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member. BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground. Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues. At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening the BNP office at Nayapaltan. On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally. Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq on Saturday asked the Detective Branch to work considering changing patterns of crimes. "Crime patterns are changing, cybercrime is increasing, DB needs to work considering all these crime patterns," he said. The DMP Commissioner made the remarks during a meeting with officers of the Detective Branch (DB) after visiting its Minto Road headquarters in the city on Saturday. It was the first visit of Khandker Golam Faruq after he took over as the DMP commissioner on October 29 last month. Praising the DB's working capabilities, the DMP chief said DB has the ability to unravel the mystery of any sensational case. The capabilities of DMP’s branch are at a very high level, he said. read more: High Court asks why DMP authority to ban rallies not illegal The Commissioner also assured the detectives that he would take steps for further capacity building of the DB. Congratulating the newly appointed commissioner for coming to visit DB office, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Harun-ur-Rashid said, "You are the pride of Bangladesh Police. We are working under your leadership so that residents of Dhaka metropolis can stay safe.” The DB chief also said that DMP's DB is now a trusted name for the city dwellers. When a crime occurs, DB works not only in the metropolis, but in any part of Bangladesh, he added. In his speech, Additional Commissioner and chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of the DMP Md. Asaduzzaman said, "You (DMP Commissioner) are an efficient officer in crime management. In 2015, a Japanese national was killed in a militant attack in Rangpur. Then the mystery of the case was revealed under your leadership". The CTTC chief said that as soon as any incident occurs in the DMP, the DB starts the shadow investigation. Detectives do not stop until the organised crime is revealed, he said. He also said that DB has capabilities, it will go further if get specific instructions from the DMP chief. read more: Police to cooperate if no criminal offence committed centring political events: DMP chief In his welcome speech, Joint Commissioner (Admin and DB South) of the DMP Sanjit Kumar Roy highlighted the recent notable achievements of the DB and also placed some demands, including establishment of forensic labs.