United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Police has formed a committee to review potential changes to its uniform and logo. Police administration undergoes major reshuffle The 10-member committee has been asked to submit its report within seven working days, according to a press release. Almost all police stations resume operations: Police HQ Mohammad Ataul Kibria, Additional DIG (Logistics), will serve as the committee head.

In a major reshuffle in police administration, 41 officials have been transferred and given new postings. On Tuesday, the home ministry issued separate notifications in this regard.Additional IGP, Special Branch (SB) Monirul Islam has been transferred to the Police Headquarters and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Railway Police Md Shah Alam has been made Additional IGP, SB. In a reshuffle within the DMP, 28 deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) of various districts have been transferred. Additional IGP of  the Police Headquarters Tawfique Mahbub Chowdhury has been named the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). Mohammad Ali Mia from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been reassigned to the Police Headquarters. Additional DIG of Police Anwar Hossain has been transferred to a specialized training center in Khagrachhari. Additionally, seven more officers with the rank of additional DIG have been transferred.

Major General Abu Mohammad Sarwar Farid of the Bangladesh Army has been appointed as the Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI), according to an ISPR press release on Tuesday. Major General Mohammad Asadullah Minhajul Alam has been appointed as the Commandant of DSCSC, and Major General Khandaker Md. Shahidul Imran has been appointed as the Commandant of BMA, it added.

Freedom Fighter Farooq-e-Azam, Bir Pratik, was sworn in on Tuesday as an adviser to the interim government. The swearing-in- ceremony was held at the Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban in the morning. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to adviser Farooq-e-Azam while Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the oath-taking ceremony. Naval-Commando Farooq-e-Azam took oath at 11:05 am in presence of the chief adviser. A total of 17 members of the 'Council of Advisers' headed by Nobel Laureate Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus took oath in three phases. The President administered the oath to 14 advisers, including the chief adviser, on Thursday last while two of them - Supradeep Chakma and Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder- were sworn in on Sunday. Advisers, special assistant to the chief adviser, chiefs of the three services, high-ranking civil and military officers witnessed the ceremony.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said the prime goal of the interim government is ensuring human rights and freedom of speech for all. “We have to establish human rights and freedom of speech. That is our prime goal,” he said after visiting Dhakeswari national temple. He urged the Hindu community people to treat themselves as human beings and children of the soil. “You just say you are human, you are the citizen of Bangladesh, this is my constitutional right, and you have to ensure it. You just demand this, nothing else,” he said. He categorically mentioned that everyone is equal in the eyes of law, there’s no scope to create differences. “I am here to say we are all equal, there is no scope to create any differences here,” he said. He urged all to cooperate the interim government for establishing the rule of law in Bangladesh. “Please help us to establish that, have patience, lets judge it later whether we could do that or not. If we can’t do that then blame us. That is the main thing,” he said. The Chief Adviser promised to establish justice by ensuring the punishment of those responsible for attacks on the Hindu and other minority community. “We are going to make Bangladesh where everyone is one family. This is the main thing. There is no question of making any distinction among families.” He said that no one will be considered as Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists. “Everyone will be considered as human. Let our rights be guaranteed.” Prof Yunus alleged that in the past years, all the institutions of the country have been destroyed. “The root of all the problems is that all the institutions were rotten. This is why these are happening. We need to revamp our institutions.” The Nobel Laureate said that if justice is ensured, everyone will get justice. Earlier, the religious leaders of the Hindu community drew his attention on the attacks on them and sought a permanent solution to these problems from the head of the interim government. Prof Muhammad Yunus assured them that justice would be done by ensuring the punishment of the criminals.

The National Emergency Service 999 has fully resumed from Tuesday after being closed for eight days, confirmed the media division of the Police Headquarters. The service had been shut down since August 5 due to the absence of police members. They have now returned to work, and as a result, the national emergency service 999 has been reactivated, it said. The National Emergency Service includes ambulance, police, fire, and crime-related assistance. If someone is in danger and calls for help, they must provide specific information. Based on that information, a police officer from the nearest police station contacts the person. Necessary actions are then taken based on the information provided.

A Bangladeshi youth was killed by gunfire from the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) across the Ahedpur border in Chapainawabganj. The deceased was identified as Md. Abdullah. He was shot and killed on Sunday night in the Indian territory near the Ahedpur border in Shibganj upazila. The incident was confirmed by Abdul Alim, a local Union Parishad member. However, as of Monday evening, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had not confirmed the information. Abdullah was the son of the late Nazrul Islam from South Nishipara in Narayanpur Union, Sadar upazila. According to Abdul Alim, on Sunday night, Abdullah and several other Bangladeshis crossed the border into India. At that time, BSF opened fire, killing Abdullah on the spot. However, his companions returned to Bangladesh unharmed. Lieutenant Colonel Monir Uz Zaman, the commanding officer of the 53rd BGB Battalion in charge of the Chapainawabganj border, said, "We have heard that a Bangladeshi has died at the border." A letter has been sent to BSF in response to this incident, but the BSF has yet to confirm the death or respond to the letter.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs, declared the cancellation of a document erroneously issued under the title: “Regarding the Provision of Information for Assessing Damage Caused by Violence, Arson, Looting, and Terrorist Activities During the Quota-Reform Protests from July 16 to July 21, 2024.” This information was informed on Monday in a notification signed by Khan Shahanur Alam, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The document, which was mistakenly issued, has been officially revoked as per directives.

Four judges of the High Court division have been elevated as judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday. The judges are: Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Justice Syed Md. Ziaul Karim, Justice Md. Rezaul Haque and Justice S. M. Emdadul Hoque. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a notification in this regard. President Mohammed Shahabuddin made the appointment under Article 95(1) of the constitution, which will be effective from the date of the oath. Earlier on Saturday, Syed Refaat Ahmed, senior judge of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, was appointed as the 25th chief justice of Bangladesh. The four justices elevated today join the chief justice and Justice Ashfaqul Islam.

Hundreds of people from the Hindu community have staged a demonstration at Shahbagh intersection of the capital Dhaka protesting against the attacks on their community. The demonstration was held between 4.30 and 6 pm on Monday. During the protest, the protesters blocked the Shahbag intersection causing the vehicles to standstill After the fall of the Awami League government in the mass uprising of students, they came to the road to protest against the vandalism, arson, looting, and torture of Hindu temples and houses in different parts of the country. Earlier, they formed a human chain in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh from 3pm on Monday. However, around 2.30 pm of the noon, another peace rally under the banner titled "The anti-Awami League Hindu Society organized a rally at Shahbagh. People from the Hindu community- specifically BNP-backed Hindu people and also Muslim people joined the rally. Nipun Ray Chowdhury, general secretary of Dhaka District BNP and also a member of the National Executive Committee of BNP, said that the sisters and brothers of the Hindu-Buddhist community and the sisters and brothers of the Muslim community are all united in today's sit-in program. This is the true image of Bangladesh. Domestic and foreign conspirators want to destroy this image and victory. "Awami terrorists want to destroy but There is no point in trying. There will be no gain. Hasina ran away and the students have won. Each and every one of you shall keep an eyes on your surrounding so that miscreants, terrorists and dictators cannot do any misdeeds and conspiracies on the soil of Bangladesh," he added.   While speaking at the rally, barrister Rumin Farhana- international affairs secretary of BNP- said: "We have started a new Bangladesh. In this new Bangladesh, there will be no discrimination regardless of caste, religion. During the Awami league Regime our leaders and activists from the top layer to the root level had been brutally tortured and murdered. We will not let it happen again." "My request to the people of our minority community is that you will be very careful of Awami League. Every time they were forced to flee from power, they used you," she added.