Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said that police force are trying to ensure smooth and secured journey during  Eid-ul-Fitr. He said this during a courtesy call on the leaders of Crime Reporters Association Of Bangladesh (CRAB) at the Police Headquarters on Tuesday (March 19). The IGP said all measures have been taken so that common people can reach their destinations during Eid. Besides, we have arranged security measures during Iftar, taraweeh and Sehri in such a way that the security of the common people is not hampered. Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said police officers across the country have been instructed to ensure the safety and services of the common people. Besides, zero tolerance policy against militancy, terrorism, extortion and drugs will continue.

Jagannath University (JnU) student Fairuz Abantika committed suicide accusing one of her teacher and classmate. Additional police have been deployed on the campus to avoid any untoward situation. Her body was found hanging from the ceiling of her room in her parents' house in Cumilla on Friday night ( March 15). Abantika posted a status on her Facebook account before she committed suicide, where she brought allegations of sexual harassment accusing her classmate Amman Siddique. The students of JnU has been rocked by the suicide of Fairuz Abantika. They claimed that Abantika was forced to commit suicide. It was a planned murder. In this situation, the students have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the university administration with a five-point demand. At that time, the students were seen chanting various slogans demanding a fair trial with placards in hand. They threatened to lay siege to the vice-chancellor's office on Monday morning (March 18) if their demands were not met. Earlier, Fairuz Abantika posted a post on her Facebook wall on Friday night blaming JnU assistant proctor Din Islam and a student of the Law Department Amman Siddiqui. She then committed suicide by hanging.  

Kenyan officials say they are still committed to sending police officers to Haiti to combat gang violence. But, after Haiti's PM agreed to quit, the deployment has been put on ice until a new government is installed. Authorities in Kenya are putting on hold a planned deployment of 1,000 police officers to a UN Security Council-approved mission to combat gang violence in Haiti. The UN's highest decision-making body last year greenlighted the Kenya-led, multinational mission to the impoverished Caribbean nation, where armed groups have largely overrun the capital, Port-au-Prince . But Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who had requested the deployment of a foreign armed force a year ago, said on Tuesday that he would resign from his position, throwing the would-be mission into disarray.  Why is Haiti's PM quitting? The armed groups, who rule much of the capital, had demanded Henry's departure after they launched a series of attacks on police stations, prisons and other infrastructure. Henry agreed to step down after mounting pressure and a surge in violence. Armed groups have prevented him from returning from Puerto Rico following a trip to Kenya last week, leaving him stranded in the US territory. "I'm asking all Haitians to remain calm and do everything they can for peace and stability to come back as fast as possible," Henry said in a video address announcing his decision to step down. But Henry's move has thwarted Kenya's effort to send troops to Haiti, senior government officials said. Abraham Korir Sing'Oei, a Kenyan Foreign Ministry official told Kenya Television Network that it would be difficult to deploy police officers to Haiti in the absence of a recognized government there. "What has happened over the last few hours presents a change in circumstances, because there is no administration on which to anchor a deployment. So as such we would have to wait and see what kind of administration is going to be installed in Haiti," Sing'Oei said. For some analysts the current political turmoil in Haiti certainly creates a vacuum that needs addressing before any deployment. Haruun Isaack, a political analyst, told DW that Haiti's security situation has become complex following Henry's resignation. He suggested that only a clear long-term strategy would deal with the crisis. "What options or chances are there for Kenyan police to go and intervene and support the government of Haiti if at all there is government in Haiti?" Isaack said, adding that, if there is no leadership in place, then it may be perceived that the forces are dealing with rebels.  Could Kenya U-turn on the mission?  Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said the government was still committed to its primary objective of assisting authorities in Haiti. "The status is, as you know it, there was a small court matter," he said. "That small matter has been resolved because the court said we needed to have a reciprocal agreement with the Haiti. That reciprocal agreement has already been signed about a week ago, so we are now in the pre-deployment stage. All the other programs are in place including the status of forces agreement." Kindiki said that, when the deployment eventually takes place, Kenyan police officers will be responsible for patrolling high-risk areas, providing support for humanitarian aid distribution, and working with and training Haitian national police personnel. "Kenya is the lead nation, but there are so many other countries that have pledged to contribute troops, and this came from the mandate of the United Nations Security Council, so it's part of our International obligations," Kindiki said. Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, a political analyst, told DW she doubts that Kenya's government would back down on its decision to send troops to Haiti despite the ongoing political turmoil. "Our president is going to remain firm; I do not see any chance of him stepping down and pulling away to send police officers [to Haiti]," she said. Is the US influencing Kenya's resolve? Wako-Ojiwa said Kenya's quest to support the United States was influencing its resolve to hold on to the multinational mission. "So you can clearly see that the relationship in terms of America is to support America, and America being in an election year this time around, it is going to be very difficult for them to be involved in peace keeping processes," she said. "They have to rely on their allies, so Kenya is going to remain firm."  US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that he understands Kenya's concerns. "If you look at what the Kenyan government said in its statement is that they have to have a government with which to collaborate, which has been an important part of their understanding. It's a perfectly natural thing to expect," he said. What do ordinary Kenyans make of the Haiti mission? Martin Njoroge, a businessman who supports the deployment, told DW from Kenya's capital, Nairobi, that if Haiti isn't supported it will collapse into a failed state. "Kenyans actually support this peace mission, but I think it is a wake-up call for Africans, for Kenyans to be in touch with history," Njoroge said. "Nothing happens in a vacuum. Kenya is the only one that agreed to go to Haiti." Not everyone supports the idea — especially after Henry announced his resignation. Dennis Otieno, another businessperson, told DW that he was concerned about the safety of Kenyan officers during such a volatile time in Haiti. "This idea is a small-minded idea, narrow-minded, one-sided, pig-headed, parochial idea," Otieno said. "It is as if you are driving somebody from a sufferer's surrounding to where there is a thirst for gunfire — 76 people have lost their lives." Wako-Ojiwa said such safety concerns were legitimate and must not be ignored. "We are talking about preparation in terms of training, [for] our police officers. People are worried that they might not have the capacity to deal with the kind of violence [in Haiti]," she said, adding that existing ammunition and equipment are insufficient.   

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that whenever the people of the country are in any danger, they seek shelter from the police. The police are friends of the people. It needs to be established. The PM  today (Feb 27) asked the Police to strengthen their efforts in eradicating terrorism, drug abuse, and corruption for the betterment of the society. She said this while inaugurating the Police Week-2024 on Tuesday (February 27) in Dhaka's Rajarbagh Police Lines, as the chief guest. PM Sheikh Hasina awarded Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) posthumously to the family members of nine Policeman who sacrificed their lives. Sheikh Hasina awarded the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM-Bravery) to 35 officers and the President Police Medal (PPM-Bravery) to 60 officers  for their outstanding performance in their services over the past year.  

A record shipment of cocaine was hidden among bananas in a Germany-bound container in the port of Southampton, British police said. British authorities said they seized 5.7 tons of cocaine at a port in southern England, believed to be the largest seizure of Class A drugs ever in the United Kingdom. The street value of the cocaine seized is believed to be "in excess of 450 million pounds" ($570 million or €526 million), the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said in a press release. The cocaine was seized on February 8 at the port of Southampton on the south coast of England. The NCA said officers believed the drugs were bound for the German city of Hamburg "for onward delivery." The UK's previous largest cocaine seizure saw 3.7 tons of the drug also found in the port of Southampton in 2022. A huge hit on organized crime The NCA said it would work with European partners to identify criminal networks involved in the illegal operation. "This record-breaking seizure will represent a huge hit to the international organized crime cartels involved, denying them massive profits," said NCA Director Chris Farrimond. "While the destination for the consignment was continental Europe in this case, I have no doubt that a significant proportion would have ended up back here in the UK, being peddled by UK criminal gangs," he added. The NCA estimates that the illicit cocaine market in the UK generates around £4 billion a year for criminal gangs.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has announced it would hold countrywide protests against the ‘theft’ of the public's mandate. The party had on Saturday urged the election commission to announce complete results by midnight or face protests. However, within hours of issuing the statement, party workers in Peshawar and Karachi embarked on protests complete with sloganeering and waving of party flags.    The polling was held on Thursday but the results were not yet declared and the country appeared headed to a hung Parliament or a coalition government. As per the updates, Independents backed by PTI won the highest 101 seats in the National Assembly, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 73 seats and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54 seats. Section 144 in Islamabad while water cannon and heavy police force have been deployed at Liberty Chowk in Lahore. In a tweet, the Islamabad Police said some people were inciting illegal gatherings around the election commission and other government institutions. "It should be noted that inciting to gather is also a crime."   Meanwhile, the Election Commission has ordered re-polling in some polling stations of NA-88 (Khushab II), PS-18 (Ghotki I), and PK-90 (Kohat I) following rigging charges, Dawn reported. The ECP spokesperson announced re-polling at 26 polling stations of NA-88 after a mob reportedly set fire to polling material at the returning officer’s office. The re-polling is scheduled for February 15.  Re-polling in PS-18, attributed to the reported confiscation of polling material by unidentified people, is also slated for February 15. Likewise, re-polling will be conducted at 25 polling stations of PK-90 due to damage caused to polling material by terrorists, the ECP said.   Parties are making efforts to cobble up an alliance to form the government since no party has secured a majority. Former premier Nawaz Sharif has also invited political parties, except for the PTI, to come together and form a coalition government, claiming that the PML-N has emerged as the "single-largest party" during the elections. Dawn reported that a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court to bind the elected independent candidates to join a political party within three days of the official notification of their victory.    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has said the nation needs "stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation." He said political leadership and their workers should rise above self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people, "which is perhaps the only way to make democracy functional and purposeful".

Biswa Ijatema is regarded as the as the second-largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) has issued some directives for the devotees. The devotees are requested to stay in the designated tent areas. On the other hand GMP emphasized the importance of promptly notifying authorities upon encountering any suspicious activities, bags or objects.   The directives were issued on Tuesday (Jan 30) in a press release which was signed by AIG Enamul Haque Sagar.  "Devotees Should keep both money and valuables with themselves and they must inform law enforcement if they lose anything" the GMP also urged. Devotees were asked to take help from temporary hospitals designated for Ijtema if they feel sick.  

The police are looking for a person who threw a dish cable on metro rail electric wires, which caused services to be suspended for around 15 minutes. The services of trains resumed around 15 minutes later at about 12:28pm on Tuesday (Jan 23), MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), said a cable had been hurled on metro rail electric wires from a building located somewhere between Farmgate and Shahbag, adding that the police were searching for the individual responsible.

The state of Rio de Janeiro's "public enemy Number 1" has turned himself in after years on the run. Luis Antonio da Silva Braga is believed to be the leader of Rio's largest criminal militia. One of Brazil's top criminal leaders has surrendered after negotiations with local authorities, according to the country's federal police. Luis Antonio da Silva Braga, better known as "Zinho," had been on the run since 2018 and is the subject of at least a dozen outstanding warrants, according to a police statement issued late Sunday.   'Public enemy Number 1' "Zinho" had been designated the state of Rio de Janeiro's "public enemy Number 1." He is now in custody awaiting trial, according to a police statement. "After the formalities due to his arrest, the inmate was taken for medical forensics and then sent to the state's prison system, where he will remain available for our courts," the statement read. On Monday, Brazilian Justice Minister Flavio Dino hailed the arrest on X, formally known as Twitter, saying it was an "important result" following "serious and planned work being carried out in Rio de Janeiro and other states, in the fight against criminal factions." Rise of the militia Militia groups came to prominence in the South American country around four decades ago, rising up from the ranks of former police officers, soldiers, firefighters and prison guards. Initially, they were formed as community self-defense units against the threat posed by drug gangs in the city known for its violent crime. But the militias then went on to seek "protection" money from businesses and took control of service provision to inhabitants of Rio's impoverished  favela neighborhoods. They have in recent years expanded into drug trafficking, as well as money laundering. The militias are said to control around 10% of Rio's metropolitan area, according to a study last year by the non-profit Fogo Cruzado and a security-focused research group at the Fluminense Federal University.

Three Washington state officers were acquitted in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, which happened in the months before the murder of George Floyd. Footage subsequently emerged of Ellis's death, sparking major protests. A jury in the United States on Thursday acquitted three Washington state police officers of all charges in the 2020 death of an unarmed Black man in Tacoma. The case of Manuel Ellis, who was shocked, beaten, and held face down on a sidewalk as he struggled to breathe, paralleled the murder of George Floyd that same year. Two of the officers, Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, were charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, while Timothy Rankine was charged with manslaughter. The jury found the three not guilty on all counts after a trial that lasted more than two months. The case is the first to charge police with a suspect's death since Washington voters in 2018 approved a ballot measure that made it easier to hold officers criminally responsible in such instances. What happened to Manuel Ellis? Witnesses and a doorbell surveillance camera captured video of parts of the encounter on the night of March 3, 2020. The officers punched 33-year-old Manuel Ellis, put him in a chokehold, and shot him with a stun gun, according to witness testimony and video evidence presented at trial. Video footage showed Collins restraining Ellis by the neck as Burbank fired a Taser into his chest as he lay on the ground. Ellis could be heard repeatedly saying, "Can't breathe, sir," during the encounter and was declared dead at the scene. Parallels with Floyd's case The officers later told investigators that Ellis attacked them and was violent. Witnesses said they saw nothing of the sort. Lawyers for the officers also argued that Ellis, who had methamphetamine in his system, died due to his drug use and a heart condition, even though the Pierce County medical examiner ruled Ellis' death a homicide caused by oxygen deprivation. Ellis's killing came weeks before the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked months of protests around the world over racial injustice and police brutality. Bystander video of Ellis's death was released in June 2020, a week after Floyd's killing, leading to protests in Tacoma. In 2021, Derek Chauvin, a former police officer, was sentenced to over 22 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.