Dhaka – Nasimul Ghani, senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, today dismissed rumors of an upcoming state of emergency, calling it “gossip.”
Ghani also assured that the legal and order situation remained under control. He spoke with journalists after signing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) agreement with Australia on the swift return of Bangladesh attempts to immigrate illegally.
The signing ceremony held in the Secretariat was attended by Lieutenant Lieutenant (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who served as the chief guest.
Ghani, speculating that security forces failed to maintain order and that the army might take over, declined to comment, saying: “These are just discussions and speculations. Some people are talking about it, but I don't comment.”
He stressed that the authorities are actively maintaining stability.
“Our officers patrol all night and the police are on alert to ensure orders,” he added.
Regarding the upcoming nine-day Eid holiday, the Senior Secretary assured that security measures will remain strong.
“Our vigilance has not been reduced. In addition to regular police patrols, the ministry has designated officials to monitor the security of Dhaka,” he added, “All standard security protocols will be prevented during Eid al-Fitr.”
When asked if there was any specific threat, Garni replied: “It doesn't fit my knowledge. The usual risks still exist.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Housing Consultant (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury highlighted the wider cooperation between Bangladesh and Australia.
“Our partnership goes beyond immigration control, trade, development and technology. Bangladesh has a diverse workforce, including skilled and semi-technical workers who can make a significant contribution to the Australian labour market,” the family adviser said.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive regional approach to addressing illegal immigration and human trafficking. He also thanked the Australian government for initiating visa processing for Bangladesh citizens in Dhaka.
Jahangir Alam said the newly signed SOP is a key tool for strengthening bilateral cooperation, promoting intelligence sharing and effectively combating illegal immigration.
The consultant said illegal immigration and trafficking pose a serious global challenge and threatens policies toward safe, orderly and legal immigration. These problems not only harm countless lives, but also destroy legal avenues of immigration based on skills.
He also stressed that the government has taken strict measures to prevent dangerous and life-threatening journeys and ensure a safe and dignified immigration process for every Bangladesh citizen.
Advisor Jahangir Alam further asserted that the Bangladesh government is committed to establishing a safe and regulated immigration system in accordance with national and international laws and policies.
Mark Whitechurch, deputy commander of the Australian Joint Agency Task Force, signed on behalf of Australia, Police Inspector General Baharul Alam, signed on behalf of Bangladesh, according to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
