Barisal Correspondent //

Home and Agriculture Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, ‘Now many cases are being filed, in which many innocent people are being accused. We have clearly said that if a case is filed against someone to harass them, action will be taken against them.’

Home Advisor Jahangir Alam made these comments at a news briefing at Barisal Police Lines on Thursday afternoon. Earlier, he held a meeting with divisional officials on matters related to Barisal divisional law and order.

At that time, the Home Advisor was asked about the removal of a police officer from Barisal and his absence within 24 hours, has the provision of presenting the accused before the court within 24 hours been repealed? In response, the Home Affairs Advisor said, ‘There is a provision.’ At that time, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mainul Islam, who was present nearby, said, there is a provision to produce someone in court within 24 hours after arrest. However, the time taken to take the detainee to their destination before presenting them in court will not be counted in this 24-hour period. The police officer has already been produced in court.

Stating that the law and order situation in Barisal is good, the Home Affairs Advisor said that the police have been strictly instructed to take action if silent extortion occurs anywhere in the country. If no one takes action, he urged them to bring it to the attention of the IGP. At that time, he said, ‘There are many cases happening now, many innocent people are being implicated in them. I am asking the heads of the forces to take action against those who are doing such cases. If such a case occurs, then the plaintiff should also be taken under action, we have also issued such a circular from the Home Ministry so that such cases are not taken.’

In response to another question from the journalists, Jahangir Alam criticized Indian journalists and said that Indian journalists are lying about Chittagong. False news is being continuously spread against Bangladesh. He also mentioned that this will be protested through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Commenting on the crisis of trust that existed among the country’s police force, the Home Advisor said, ‘The police force is improving more than before, but it will take time to be complete. I have been here for three months. I do not have such an Aladdin’s lamp that I can say let it happen, and it will happen. It will take time, we have to give it time.’ At this time, the Home Advisor called on the media to come forward to play a role against mob justice.

The Home Advisor reached Barisal Circuit House by road at around 12 noon today. Later, when he went to the police lines, he was given a guard of honor. At around 12:30 pm, the 7th Infantry Division Brigade Commander Brigadier General Amirul Azim, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Mohammad Abdul Momen, IGP Mainul Islam, BGB Director General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman and top officials of the field administration were present in the meeting on law and order.

At 3:45 pm, Home and Agriculture Advisor Jahangir Alam exchanged views with the officials of the divisional agriculture department at the regional office of the Agricultural Information Service in Nagar. At that time, he said, ‘Barisal was once a granary, but this time I came to Barisal and was disappointed. Agriculture is now much more prosperous in the Rangpur and Rajshahi regions. This time, Boro rice has been good in the Rangpur and Rajshahi regions.’ He said that the agriculture department has the highest number of doctoral degree officers in the country, numerous cadre officers. But none of them want to go to the field. They want projects, cars, good postings. Many such projects have been taken up by the previous government in the agriculture department, which are not related to agriculture. Roads have been built in many places. What will be the benefit of agriculture in this? This habit of giving and taking in the name of projects has to be changed.’

The agriculture advisor said, ‘Now there is no party government. It is convenient to work. Utilize this facility. But I see many people are restless for transfers.’

Jahangir Alam also said, ‘Agriculture has done quite well in the Barendra region. We have recommended them for the Swadhinata Padak. I want Barisal to do well in agriculture too. Barisal has to restore its old reputation as a granary. You should work towards that goal.’

At that time, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Zubair Hossain, Divisional Commissioner Md. Raihan Kawsar and other senior officials of the agriculture department were present.