DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) urged the political parties to hold their programmes without causing public suffering as they may be forced to ban political rallies in future if those  become reasons of people’s woes. A total of nine political parties including Awami League and BNP have sent letters to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) seeking permission to hold rallies in the capital on July 27 but few parties will be allowed, said the DMP chief. DMP has no such objection to BNP’s marches in capital on July 18, 19: Anee “To hold political rallies is a democratic right of the political parties but it is the responsibility of the DMP to ensure the security of the people,” he said while talking to reporters after inspecting the overall security measures on the occasion of Holy Ashura over the Tajia procession.He also urged the political parties to plan their programmes on weekly holidays in future instead of working days considering the public suffering.Besides, carrying of sticks and bags in the rallies will be prohibited, he said. Drive to continue till Dhaka free from mugging: DMP CommissionerReferring to the Tajia procession, the DMP chief said police have been giving importance to security during Tajia procession since the 2015 explosion at a Tajia procession. Action to be taken if passengers are charged extra fare during Eid journey: DMP CommissionerThe Imambara Hoseni Dalan area will be brought under CCTV surveillance and alongside the law enforcement agencies, plainclothes police will be deployed in the area to ensure foolproof security.Besides, dog squad will be active in the area so that no untoward incident can happen, he said.

Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday (July 23, 2023) warned that action will be taken if anyone tries to break law and create public suffering. “It is quite normal that action will be taken against those who don’t abide by law, and create public suffering,” he said while speaking at a programme on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (Crab) at Dhaka Reporters Unity. Will investigate if any police negligence led to assault on Hero Alom: Home Minister Regarding arrest of BNP leaders and activists, he said those BNP leaders and activists have been arrested who were warranted in different cases. People are not interested to see BNP in power and that’s why they failed to come to power, he said.Referring to BNP’s political programmes, Asaduzzaman said police do not create any obstacle to their programmes anywhere. US wants to see a free, fair, and violence-free election: Home Minister Replying to a question about the death of an activist of BNP in Laxmipur, the Home minister said “After talking to the law enforcers and local administration it was known that the slain person was not an activist of BNP, and the person died due to previous enmity between two groups.” Cyber teams working on leaked  NID info: Home Minister 

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 11, 2023) asked the business community leaders to find ways to bring commodity prices to a normal level.  “Considering public suffering, the business community leaders will have to find ways to bring prices of essentials to a normal level. Otherwise, you will lose your markets,” she said. The premier said this while inaugurating Bangladesh Business Summit-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), in partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce Ministry and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), is arranging the three-day summit. Read More: If people don’t buy in excess, there will be no price hike of essentials ahead of Ramadan: Tipu Munshi Sheikh Hasina said people are going through a very difficult time due to high prices of essentials and inflationary pressure. She said developing countries like Bangladesh as well as developed countries are facing severe problems due to price hike of essentials and high inflation caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, economic sanctions and counter-sanctions following the Covid-19 pandemic. Ministers from seven countries including the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, China, Bhutan and the United Arab Emirates, CEOs of 12 multinational companies, and more than 200 foreign investors and business leaders from 17 countries are participating in the business summit. Read more: 'Business Summit to help brand Bangladesh's identity, manufacturing prowess to foreign investors' Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, PM's Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Saudi Arabian Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-kassabi, Bhutanese Minister of Commerce and Employment Karma Dorjia and Deputy Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO) Xiangchen Zhang spoke at the opening function, while FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin delivered the welcome speech. The Business Summit is being organized as a part of the FBCCI's 50th founding anniversary celebrations with the aim of creating new opportunities for trade and investment by showcasing the country's economic potential before a global audience. The Business Summit will showcase dynamic investment opportunities and improvements to the local business climate while also giving insights into investment priorities of global investors to improve policymaking. Read more: PM to inaugurate Bangladesh Business Summit on Saturday

Issuing a note of warning, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said public suffering and anarchy centering the BNP’s mass-sit-in programme in the city will not be tolerated. “BNP won’t face any obstruction if they hold their programme peacefully.  If their programme becomes reason of public suffering then it won’t be tolerated,” he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a Mujib Corner at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters. The government did not create any obstructions to BNP’s programmes  but the party resorted to violence in their previous programmes, he said adding “The law enforcers  will resist them if they block roads and carry out vandalism and destructive activities in the name of mass sit-in programme.” Also Read: Will act against those trying to create anarchy: Home Minister Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan and high official concerned were present. Earlier, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced  mass sit-in programmes in all divisional cities of the country on January 11.  The party will organise the sit-in programme in Dhaka in front of its central office at Nayapaltan.    

BNP on Wednesday alleged that the weeklong lockdown, enforced by the government, is only causing public sufferings instead of yielding any positive outcome to contain Covid transmission due to mismanagement. "The reality is that neither lockdown nor the restrictions are being implemented at the field level due to mismanagement of the government,” said BNP acting office secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said people remain at a high risk of coronavirus infection because of the government’s contradictory moves. “Everything is in a mess everywhere, putting people in limitless troubles.” The BNP leader also alleged that the government has enforced the lockdown without any prior preparation. He said long traffic jams on roads and highways are the proof that the lockdown has been ineffective. “People are waiting in long queues for transports at different places in the city. Basically, everything is going on as before.” Read: No step in sight to tackle Covid transmission: BNP The BNP leader said the government’s policy makers took such a decision of enforcing a lockdown sitting in air-conditioned rooms without proper planning as they do not need to think about salary utility bills and money for managing food. “But people have to ensure sufferings as a result of this unplanned and unprepared move.” Prince, also a BNP organising secretary, said the government's response to tackling the second wave of coronavirus is uncoordinated, unplanned, shortsighted and irrational as happened last year. “This time the government got a lot of time. But due to lack of prior preparation, the situation turned chaotic as it was last year.” He also said corona-infected people are struggling to receive treatment for lack of sufficient vacant seats, ICUs, ventilators and oxygen supply at the hospitals in the cities and different district towns. "Patients with corona infections are dying on the streets as they are running from one hospital to another for treatment. “The government has to shoulder the responsibility for this,” the BNP leader said. Prince demanded the government take effective steps to ensure adequate healthcare facilities, ICUs, ventilators and oxygen at hospitals and conduct free Covid tests.