[🇧🇩] The Home Adviser and the Law and Order Situation in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Combing operating: No criminal should get away

Improving law and order is essential to ensuring the safety to citizens and their property, as well as keeping the economy running smoothly.

en.prothomalo.com

Combing operating: No criminal should get away
Editorial Desk
Published: 01 Mar 2025, 13: 48

The joint forces on the night of 25 February launched a combing operation against criminals in Dhaka. Adviser of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that afternoon, “You will understand the situation after dusk.” There may be debate regarding whether law and order has improved over the last few days, but it can be asserted with certainty that the situation has not worsened. According to words of the home adviser, the criminals have, to some extent, felt the impact.

According to reports from Prothom Alo, citing the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), 793 individuals have been arrested in the capital as part of the ongoing operation. During this period, DMP set up 65 checkpoints and deployed 550 patrol teams. As part of Operation Devil Hunt, which started on 8 February, more than 11,000 individuals have been arrested over the past 19 days.

Since the start of the operation, DMP has been providing daily updates. Prior to this, the home adviser set a precedent by holding a press conference at early hours of 3:00 AM. Subsequently, adviser Asif Mahmud also briefed journalists at night, providing updates on the law and order situation.

Although there had been no significant visible improvement in law and order in recent days, incidents of mugging and robbery have decreased. The criminals who once instilled fear in neighbourhoods are now living in fear themselves. Many are fleeing. The duty of law enforcement agencies is to track them down, regardless of where they attempt to hide and bring them to justice.

The holy month of Ramadan is approaching. During this period, movement at night is expected to increase due to shopping, iftar gatherings and sehri preparations. Consequently, the risk of mugging, robbery and theft will also rise.in this context, night-time operations must be intensified during Ramadan.

One crucial point must be emphasised. The success of the operation cannot be measured solely by the number of criminals been caught. Those who remain at large must also be tracked down. No area should be left unchecked, intensifying operations in some locations while relaxing in others. If coordinated operations are conducted nationwide, criminals will inevitably be brought to justice.

In the past, such operations have failed due to political interference. On several occasions, individuals arrested as criminals were later found to be affiliated with the ruling party, leading to their release through the exertion of influence. However, as the current government is entirely apolitical, it should have no vested interest in protecting any particular group. Every case must be investigated impartially and thoroughly to ensure that no innocent person is subjected to harassment, while no actual offender escapes justice.

Improving law and order is essential to ensuring the safety to citizens and their property, as well as keeping the economy running smoothly.

Without progress in law and order, it will also be challenging to fulfill the interim government’s commitment to holding elections, as promised to the public. In addition to the Ministry of Home Affair’s Adviser, we have seen another Adviser express concern ovr the security situation.

It is hoped that all relevant ministers will step forward from their respective positions to address these issues. At the very least, senior officials of DMP should not limit their role to issuing directives but should also conduct on-site inspections to oversee the operations directly.​

 

[Bilal9]

So @Saif bhai - what is the general consensus on the street about AL causing destabilizing scenario?

 

[Saif]

So @Saif bhai - what is the general consensus on the street about AL causing destabilizing scenario?

Some people in the know say that it is not Awami League but BNP which is causing the unrest in Bangladesh at the behest of India. BNP is trying its best to prove to India that it is ready to go out of its way to safeguard India's political interest in Bangladesh so that India use its political muscle to keep BNP in power for a long long time. BNP is opposing the reform of the constitution written by Awami League and also they are opposing the removal of President Chuppu who was appointed by Awami League. BNP has literally transformed itself into a B team of Awami league to garner India's support. The whole thing is very depressing. I used to be a staunch supporter of BNP but after seeing the anti state activities of BNP I have switched side to support the new political party launched by the anti discrimination protesters. Peace.

 

[Bilal9]

Some people in the know say that it is not Awami League but BNP which is causing the unrest in Bangladesh at the behest of India. BNP is trying its best to prove to India that it is ready to go out of its way to safeguard India's political interest in Bangladesh so that India use its political muscle to keep BNP in power for a long long time. BNP is opposing the reform of the constitution written by Awami League and also they are opposing the removal of President Chuppu who was appointed by Awami League. BNP has literally transformed itself into a B team of Awami league to garner India's support. The whole thing is very depressing. I used to be a staunch supporter of BNP but after seeing the anti state activities of BNP I have switched side to support the new political party launched by the anti discrimination protesters. Peace.

You are correct - BNP stalwarts, who were as corrupt as the AL in their rule, have to be stopped from coming to power again. They were approached by RAW by the usual contacts and are trying to stage a comeback of India-shill politics in Bangladesh.

 

[Saif]

No room for mob justice, moral policing

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan yesterday firmly stated there is no room for mob justice or moral policing in the country.

www.thedailystar.net

No room for mob justice, moral policing
Environment adviser tells press briefing

Photo: PID

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan yesterday firmly stated there is no room for mob justice or moral policing in the country.

"The government has consistently taken a strong stance against such actions. However, as law and order have not yet been fully restored to normalcy, incidents of mob justice and moral policing have been observed in some areas," she said at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.

Referring to a recent incident in Mohammadpur, Rizwana said, "We understand that both parties involved have signed a compromise agreement in the presence of police. Since a settlement has been reached, we must respect it as the final resolution."

She, however, said the government does not support any form of violence against women.

The press briefing was attended by Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi.​

 

[Saif]

Surreal times: Mob violence and feeble response

It is becoming difficult to say whether the government is trying to run a country in earnest or just playing house

www.thedailystar.net

Surreal times: Mob violence and feeble response

The times are indeed strange, bordering on the surreal.

A mob of a few hundred people stormed a house in Gulshan simply because there was rumour of a secret stash inside. They claimed that it belonged to one Tanvir Imam, son of HT Imam, who was a close confidante of the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. It did not. In fact, the house reportedly belonged to the father of a woman that Tanvir Imam had divorced almost two decades ago. But that is besides the point.

The mob was so oblivious to the impropriety of what they were perpetrating that they even had the bright idea of inviting Youtubers and TV reporters who filmed them live and broadcast the scenes as it happened. The police only managed to show up much later after the mob had broken in and was well into what is suspected to have been a looting spree, even though the police station is practically minutes—less than a kilometre—away. It is baffling that the police took so long as they did to respond to the emergency.

And now the chief adviser's press wing has issued a statement that essentially strives to explain the matter further saying that the former caretaker of the house had rounded up people to go in and loot the place. As if, that completely absolves the authorities of any responsibilities. As if, since the former caretaker was involved, it is a perfectly acceptable scenario that hundreds of strangers can force their way into a house.

The brief statement also cites the home ministry, which is even more ironic and rather reminiscent of Bengali movies where the police would appear only after the protagonist had beaten the villain to a bloody pulp to caution the hero saying "do not take the law into your hands." The home ministry statement urged everyone not to take the law into their hands!

Just the other day, a woman was almost lynched for smoking in public. Another suspected thief had his hands broken and eyes gouged out. The general climate of lawlessness has only become stronger because of weak policing. Strengthening law enforcement seems to be the least of the home adviser's concern. In fact, one wonders what his concerns are exactly, since he has not let the press hold him to account so far.

But from the home ministry's missive to the people, it is becoming difficult to say whether the government is trying to run a country in earnest or just playing house.​