Kamal to visit UN HQ with sanctioned IGP

Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is preparing for his visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York with the United States sanctioned official Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed and four officials from home ministry and police headquarters between August 31 and September 1.

The home minister confirmed his visit with Benazir Ahmed and other officials, and said that they would be attending UN programmes related to security council and counter-terrorism.

‘It is as per an invitation from the UN headquarters,’ he said on Friday.

None of the officials, however, were from the Anti-Terrorism Unit of the police or the counter terrorism and transnational crime unit.

Besides the minister and the IGP, the other members of the team are—home ministry’s joint secretary Abu Hena Mostafa Zaman, private secretary to the minister and deputy secretary Md Asaduzzaman, the police headquarters additional deputy inspector general (UN affairs) Nassian Wazed and IGP’s staff officer assistant inspector general Muhammad Masud Alam, according to a leaked government order that went viral.

The government order read that all the expenses related to this visit to New York will be borne from the budget of the public security division and police department as per government rules.

In May, the Finance Ministry announced a broad measure to restrict government officials from travelling on state funds as a part of an austerity drive.

Asked about the recent government announcement of not making foreign visit by the government officials, the minister said that the government asked officials not to make unnecessary foreign tours.

‘Why should not we go when it is important,’ he added.

The order read that they would leave Dhaka for New York on August 30 or on a nearer date and will leave New York for Dhaka on September 3 or on a nearer date.

IGP Benazir Ahmed was sanctioned by the United States with six other former and serving commanders in Rapid Action Battalion on December 10, 2021 for their human rights violation.

In separate visit, home ministry’s additional secretary ( jail wing) Sayed Bealal Hossain of security services division along with inspector general of prisons Brigadier General ASM Anisul Haque and prisons assistant inspector general ( development) Mohammad Sajjad Hossain were allowed to visit New Orleans in the US for attending  the American Correctional Association Conference to be held between August 4 and 7.

The airfare, lodging, registration fee and expenses of the officials will be borne by the US department of justice.