United News of Bangladesh

Police arrested 53,518 people and seized 438 firearms during special drives conducted across the country. The drive was conducted from May 1 to August 26, according to a press release issued by the Police Headquarters. Besides, 141,628 people were arrested in other cases and during various operations, while a total of 195,146 people were arrested in special drives and other cases. During the operations, police seized 438 firearms, including 153 pistols, 48 shooter guns, 45 LGs, 26 revolvers, 108 guns, 26 pipe guns, seven shotguns, seven rifles, three submachine guns (SMGs), 12 air guns and one pen gun. Meanwhile, 4,722 rounds of bullets and cartridges, 165 magazines, 65 cocktails, 2.25 kilograms of gunpowder, 893 locally made weapons, 71 weapon components, 21 pieces of equipment used to manufacture weapons and bombs, and 10,300 chocolate fireworks were also seized during the operations. Police also seized 14,054,559 yaba tablets, 10,732 packets of heroin, 30,427 bottles of Phensidyl, 13,865 bottles of foreign liquor, 560 bottles of locally produced liquor, 12,053 packets of cannabis and other narcotic and drug-like substances during the drives. A total of 23,221 cases were filed and 34,043 people were arrested in connection with the recovery of these drugs.

Police arrested Bidisha Siddique, former wife of late Jatiya Party Chairman and former President HM Ershad, from Gulshan in the city on Tuesday night in a financial fraud case, in which she was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. She was picked up around 8:00pm as she faces an arrest warrant in the case, said Daud Hossain, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station. On May 20 last, a Dhaka court sentenced Bidisha to two years’ imprisonment in the fraud case involving a flat. The court also fined her Tk 10,000, with an additional one month’s imprisonment in default of payment, and issued a warrant for her arrest. The case was filed at Gulshan Police Station on February 2, 2008 by businessman AKM Mosharraf Hossain Sikdar of Dhaka’s Pallabi area. According to the case statement, Mosharraf paid Bidisha Tk 75 lakh on July 10, 2001 for a flat in Baridhara that was supposed to be handed over by July 10, 2002. However, despite the passage of several years, the flat was not handed over, the complaint said. Later, Bidisha allegedly issued a cheque for Tk 72 lakh on February 9, 2005, which was dishonoured due to insufficient funds. The complainant also alleged that instead of returning the money or handing over the flat, Bidisha delayed the matter on various pretexts and later threatened to kill him. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken extensive security measures across the capital ahead of Eid-e-Miladunnabi to maintain law and order. The entire capital has been brought under a stringent security arrangement to prevent any untoward incident and address any potential threat to public safety, says DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner media Niaj Mehedi on Tuesday evening. Muslims in Bangladesh to observe Eid-e-Miladunnabi Wednesday As part of the measures, police pickets and checkposts are being operated across the city, while checks and searches have been intensified at all entry points to Dhaka. Members of the Detective Branch (DB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit will remain deployed for operational activities, intelligence surveillance and security operations. SWAT, the Bomb Disposal Unit and K-9 Unit members will conduct sweeping operations at important locations and places of public gathering. Important installations have been brought under special security plans, with round-the-clock surveillance through CCTV cameras and drones. Members of the City Special Branch (CTSB) and Intelligence Analysis Division (IAD) will continue intelligence activities and information gathering in plain clothes. Additional RAB and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) teams will also remain deployed to strengthen overall security, while sufficient Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been kept ready and deployed to respond swiftly to any emergency. Additional officers and personnel, beyond the regular deployment, will be stationed at various locations to provide security for discussion meetings, Milad gatherings and rallies. Mobile police teams from the relevant police stations will also accompany the rallies at the front and rear. All senior DMP officials will remain in the field and supervise security arrangements in their respective jurisdictions. The DMP said it has taken the highest level of security measures to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement of city dwellers and the smooth holding of religious programmes on the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi.

The government has promoted five police officers to the post of additional inspector general of police under Grade-2 of the National Pay Scale, 2015. The Police-1 branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification to this end on Sunday. The promoted officers are: Md Sayedur Rahman, director (DIG) of the Central Police Hospital; Md Mainul Hasan, additional IGP (current charge) of the Tourist Police; Md Israil Howlader, police commissioner (DIG) of the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP); Md Iqbal Hossain, the current DIG of Dhaka Range; and Md Kamrul Ahsan, DIG of the Police Directorate. According to the notification, the promoted officers must submit their joining letters to the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs through proper authority. The order, issued in the public interest, will take effect from their respective dates of joining, read the notification.

Security has been tightened in Dhaka’s Gulshan-Banani diplomatic zone following emails sent to several embassies demanding money. A senior official of the Diplomatic Security Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), speaking on condition of anonymity on Sunday said the diplomatic zone remains under constant surveillance as diplomats and other VIPs from different countries live in the area. “Security can never be relaxed. Security measures in the diplomatic zone remain fully in place,” he said. Asked about the emails demanding money from embassies, Chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said the emails were sent by a fake group with the intention of damaging the country’s image and embarrassing the government. He made the remarks while answering to questions at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road. Asked about the emails demanding money from embassies, Shafiqul Islam said the group is operating online and that it was a fake group. He said several bKash numbers were mentioned in the emails and police have brought three or four people associated with those numbers in for questioning. However, they were found to be completely innocent and had no knowledge of the matter, he said. The DB chief said three or four embassies as well as several government offices have received such emails. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident so far, he said, adding that police are investigating the matter seriously. “We are hopeful that we will uncover the incident and bring those involved to justice,” he said.

Decorative poles with smart lights will be installed along various major roads under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to facilitate citizens’ movement and enhance the beauty of the capital, said DNCC Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan on Sunday. He made the remarks while inaugurating decorative poles with smart lights installed by the DNCC Electricity Department at Khamarbari Intersection area of Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, said a press release. The DNCC administrator said there is a directive to make Dhaka a brighter and more modern city. “So, the Dhaka North City Corporation has undertaken this project,” he said. He said the city corporation would not only implement the project but also take responsibility for its maintenance. Shafiqul Islam said the city corporation is gradually moving towards implementing its electoral commitments. “We will all work together to transform this city into a modern, clean, odour-free and liveable city,” he said.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A B M Obaidul Islam has alleged that the caretaker government of 2007 sought to sideline Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman from politics to prolong its hold on power. “Their main objective was to remove then-leader Begum Khaleda Zia from politics, which was known as the ‘Minus Two’ formula,” he said. The vice-chancellor made the remarks at a discussion organized at the TSC auditorium on Sunday to mark Dhaka University’s Black Day. The university observes August 23 every year to commemorate the attacks, arrests and alleged torture of its teachers and students during August 20-23, 2007. Prof. Obaidul said the university had been observing August 23 as Black Day every year since 2009, recalling 2007 and 2008 as “extremely horrific” years. “During the period, an unfortunate incident took place at the Dhaka University playground on August 20, 2007,” he said, adding that the treatment of teachers during a subsequent crackdown was “extremely humiliating.” According to Dhaka University records, on August 20, 2007, army personnel assaulted students while they were watching a football match at the university’s central playground. The incident triggered protests by students. The then military-backed caretaker government subsequently imposed a curfew, and on the night of August 23, four DU teachers and eight students were arrested and reportedly tortured. Since then, Dhaka University has observed August 23 as Black Day in remembrance of the incidents. The VC also alleged that the caretaker government had installed its preferred people in power through the election it organized at the fag end of 2008. The Awami League had won that election in a landslide. He recalled Khaleda Zia’s reported refusal to leave Bangladesh despite pressure, saying, “She firmly said that she had no other place but this country and that if she had to die, she would die here.” He credited her stance for earning her the title “Mother of Democracy.” Speaking about Tarique Rahman, Prof Obaidul alleged that he had been subjected to severe torture, including an injury to his back. He also referred to allegations that Tarique Rahman’s younger brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, was killed through slow poisoning. “Despite all this persecution, they did not deviate from their ideals. Truth always prevails. The black agenda of Moinuddin-Fakhruddin did not succeed,” he said. DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Admin) Prof Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said the “Minus Two” formula was, in his view, aimed at weakening Bangladeshi nationalist forces, a political party and its family. “I want to connect that attempt to destroy the nationalist forces with the attack on Dhaka University,” he said. DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Prof Dr Abdus Salam, Treasurer Prof Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Proctor Dr Israfil Ratan, deans of different faculties, provosts and teachers and students were present at the program.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed made a surprise visit to the capital's Tejgaon Police Station on Saturday afternoon and directed police to ensure prompt and quality services for ordinary citizens. During the visit, the minister inspected the overall law and order situation, infrastructure and the quality of police services provided to people at the station. He spoke with police personnel on duty and visited different sections of the station, including administrative offices, the duty officer’s room, investigation officers’ rooms, the lock-up and accommodation facilities and dining area for police members. While visiting the barracks, Salahuddin Ahmed instructed officials to ensure proper accommodation, food quality and a clean environment for police personnel. He also inquired about the schedules and working conditions of officers assigned to night and shift duties. The minister also spoke directly with citizens who had come to the police station seeking services. He listened to the concerns of people who had come to file general diaries or complaints and instructed the officer-in-charge and other officials to resolve their grievances quickly and transparently. “Protecting and serving the people is the primary duty of the police. Every police station must become a place of trust and confidence for citizens,” he said. “We are committed to creating an environment where people can come to police stations without fear and raise their concerns directly, without having to rely on any intermediary,” he added. Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed and senior police officials accompanied the minister during the visit.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said Bangladesh’s national interest and the interests of its people will be the foremost consideration in deciding whether the government joins any pact or multilateral body. “Our foreign policy will be guided ‘Bangladesh First’. Whether we join any pact or any multilateral body will be decided primarily on whether Bangladesh’s interests and the interests of the Bangladeshi people are protected,” she told reporters while responding to a question. A section of foreign media outlets reported that Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards the possibility of joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye. Shama said Dhaka would make its decisions independently based on national interests and dismissed reports appearing in the Indian or Pakistani media as a basis for judging government decisions. “If the Bangladesh government takes any such decision, you - the Bangladeshi media - will be the first to know. So why should what is appearing in the Pakistani or Indian media be our consideration?” she said. Shama said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken significantly more work during the six months following the February election than at any comparable period over the past 17 years. “I believe that in these six months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has done much more work than at any time during the past 17 years,” she said. The State Minister said three new wings had been opened at the Ministry and that the government was working on migration-related issues, including preventing irregular migration. “We are working on migration and on stopping irregular migration,” she said. She also highlighted the formation of several inter-ministerial focal-point groups involving the ministries responsible for expatriate welfare, culture, labour and commerce. She said the foreign ministry would face an especially busy period ahead as the foreign minister prepares to take on responsibilities related to the UN General Assembly presidency. “Our foreign minister has won the UNGA presidency, and he will be extremely busy over the next year,” she said. “Therefore, for the convenience of the ministry’s work and to accelerate the government’s activities, the government will take the necessary decisions, and work will proceed accordingly,” she added. Shama also welcomed the role of newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir. “Of course, he was working as the foreign affairs adviser. Even when we were in opposition, he worked on foreign affairs. So, obviously, he has that experience,” she said. “We believe that if we work well as a team, if we can work together and in coordination, our multilateral activities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will certainly move forward with greater importance and momentum,” she said.

Newly appointed Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Sa Ching Prue Jerry on Saturday paid homage to former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia by placing floral wreaths at their graves. Jerry paid tribute at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital around noon. Leaders and activists of Bandarban district BNP and its affiliated organisations were present with the minister at the time. The cabinet underwent its first reshuffle on Friday, Aug 21, after six months of the government being formed. The reshuffle involved changes in ministerial portfolios as well as the appointment of new ministers and state ministers. Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Sa Ching Prue Jerry and Barrister Andaleeve Rahman were sworn in as new ministers. Following the ministers’ swearing-in, Humaiun Kobir and Shamim Kaiser took oath as state ministers. Later that night, a gazette notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani announced the allocation and reallocation of portfolios among the ministers and state ministers.