Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday warned that armed criminals and or militant groups in the hills of Chattogram will not be spared. “No armed criminals and militants groups will be spared in the hills but the government will take initiative if any criminal wants to return to normal life,” said the minister while talking to reporters after attending the concluding ceremony of the training of 99th recruit batch of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) a Baitul Izzat BGB Training Centre in Satkania upazila here. The BGB force has been strengthened through modern equipment to protect bordering area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said. “After assuming power, the current government has been working tirelessly to make the BGB a modern and international standard border guard and it has elevated to the three-dimensional force after bringing change in its organisational structure,” he said.  

The Gulistan building has turned risky as its ground floor was badly damaged after the blast, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday. “The five-storey building has turned risky and the whole building may collapse if pressure is created on it. So rescue operation in the basement should be started after creating a stable situation,” he said while talking to reporters after visiting the spot. Damages in the building after the blast would not have been so much if it had been constructed following the building code, said Asaduzzaman. When asked about the reason behind the explosion, the minister said the actual reason behind the incident will be known after investigation. He also urged people to refrain from constructing buildings without taking proper approval from different agencies concerned. Also read: Gulistan blast: Rescue operation begins for the second day Earlier, on Tuesday, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area. Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.  

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday held Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP responsible for anti-Ahmadyya violence in Panchagarh that left two people dead and dozens injured. Talking to reporters at his Secretariat office the home minister said that local Jamaat activists and BNP leaders were involved in obstructing the Ahmadyyas from holding their religious event and besides torching their houses. He said several thousand Ahmadyyas live in the area and their Salna Jalsa has been an annual event there.“But this year, the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP leaders obstructed them. They also carried out arson attacks on their houses and raided the venue of event,” he said.He said the clashes claimed a member of the Ahmadyya community, while an activist of Jamaat-e-Islami died during the violence, he said. Earlier reports said that the violence on Friday left two people killed and at least 50 others injured.Already seven cases have been filed in this connection while 81 people have been arrested so far. BNP leader Fazle Rabbi was among the arrestees, said the minister. Read more: Clash over Ahmadiyya event: Over 8,200 sued, 81 arrested in PanchagarhFollowing interrogation, Fazle Rabbi admitted that he was there to stop the religious event and he also led the protest from behind the scenes, said Asaduzzaman.A RAB member was also injured and a vehicle of the agency was also vandalised during the violence, he said.However, the situation in the area is normal now and more cases are under way, he added.Replying to a question about any advance information from an intelligence source about the Panchagarh incident, the minister said “Efforts are on to investigate why the members of the community got so angry this year? Whether there is any negligence on the part of law enforcers will be found out. Already a probe committee has been formed in this connection and action will be taken if we find any negligence over the issue.”Responding to a question about the BNP allegation that the government has created the incident to repress the BNP, the minister said “Awami League never goes against the people of the country. Where Awami League is in charge of providing security to the people then why would they do such an incident? Those who were behind the incident are spreading rumours to hide them.” On the massive fire at Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp, Asaduzzaman said the government is investigating whether there was any sabotage in it.“We are investigating to find out what caused the fire and whether there was any sabotage or conspiracy,” he said.The government has taken steps for sheltering those who lost their houses in the fire. He said Rohingyas can go to Bhashan Char as the government has taken huge preparation for resettling the displaced Myanmar nationals on the island. “If they want they can go voluntarily they will be taken there,” he said.

Lauding the positive role of police in maintaining peace and order, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said the law enforcement agency is now a symbol of dependability and confidence to the public. Besides, the police force has now become a friend of the people, the minister said while speaking at the 48th founding anniversary of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Saturday as the chief guest. He said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamed of creating DMP, the journey of DMP started with his efforts. Today DMP has turned 48 years. DMP has 50 police stations and several units, which are always working to maintain law and order situations. "CTTC was established in DMP under the direction of the Prime Minister following the rise of militancy. Since then the CTTC unit was able to suppress the militancy with great success," added the minister. "Maintaining peace and order in Dhaka, home of 2 crore people, is not an easy task. But DMP has been able to provide security to the people very successfully." Khandker Golam Faruq, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) presided over the programme. In his speech, he said that the capacity of DMP has increased a lot. "Strict legal action will be taken to protect the security of the people and the sovereignty of the state if any person or group commits acts of militancy, terrorism and sabotage in the future," he added. Read more: Take service to people’s doorsteps, earn their confidence: PM to police

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday said an intelligence team is investigating the anonymous letter sent to Lalmonirhat district jail.