Dhaka: After finalizing the decision to change the uniforms of Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar as part of the reform, Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Committee, gave a special message on Facebook.

On Monday (January 20) afternoon, he made a post on his verified Facebook profile about the change in uniform.

There, he wrote, 'There is no benefit in changing the uniforms without changing the nature, character, and qualities. The problem is not in the uniforms, but in the entire system.'

Meanwhile, the decision to change the uniforms of the law enforcement forces was finalized at the meeting of the Advisory Council in the meeting room of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday (January 20).

Regarding the change in uniforms, the Home Affairs Adviser told the media, along with the uniforms, our mindsets must also change. We all have to prevent corruption. Only then will many things change. The training they had for the last 15 years must also be changed, they must be humane.

Even after 5 days have passed since the attack on Professor Md. Manjurul Islam, the principal of Government Sarada Sundari Women's College in Faridpur, the police have not been able to identify and arrest the attackers. Students and teachers have been holding road blockades, protest marches and human chains demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.

They warned of a tough movement if the attackers were not arrested within the next two days. Later, the blockade was lifted after the assurance of the Deputy Commissioner.

On Monday (January 20), a protest march was taken out from the town campus of Government Rajendra College at around 10 am. The march ended at the Janata Bank intersection via Mujib Road. Later, the students blocked the Janata Bank intersection and Hasibul Hasan Lablu Mia Road and sat on the road. During this time, they kept raising various slogans demanding the arrest of the attackers.

The speakers said that even after 5 days of the incident, the police could not arrest the attacker. CCTV footage showed two young men on a motorcycle attacking the principal. The teaching community is suffering from insecurity. If the attackers are not arrested within the next two days, a strict movement will be announced.

Later, when Deputy Commissioner Md. Kamrul Hasan Molla reached the spot and assured the speedy arrest of the attackers, the teachers and students lifted the blockade.

It is worth noting that on Wednesday (January 15), at around 7:30 pm, Sharda Sundari Women's College Principal Professor Md. Manjurul Islam (56) was ambushed. He had come out of his residence in Jhiltuli of the city to offer Isha prayers. At that time, when he reached the road in front of the college, a motorcycle got off and suddenly hit him on the head with an iron rod. When he fell to the ground, the motorcycle riders fled.

The decision to abolish freedom fighter quota in MBBS admission test is the state’s, not the ministry’s, said Special Assistant Professor to the Chief Adviser Dr. Sayedur Rahman.

He said this while talking to reporters after a program at a hotel in the capital on Monday (January 20).

He said, “As you know, the main change in the court verdict given in the wake of the quota abolition movement is that instead of grandchildren, children have been mentioned as the next generation. Therefore, this is a policy decision in terms of quota admission. The MBBS admission test was also conducted as per the prevailing laws and rules.

He further said, “Among these 193 people, there will be very unusual people who are 67-68 years old and who are very unlikely to have children. If any error is found there, it will be seen. The policy decision on whether there will be a main quota in the MBBS examination or not is not the Health Ministry’s, it is the state’s. It will be verified on January 27, 28 and 29.” 

The new US Charge d'Affaires in Bangladesh, Tracy Anne Jacobson, has reiterated her country's support for the interim government of Bangladesh on a range of issues, including development and counter-terrorism.

Jacobson made the pledge during a meeting with the interim head of the Bangladesh government at the Jamuna State Guest House on Monday (January 20), a statement said.

The statement said that Jacobson told Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, "We stand ready as a nation to support your government on a range of issues."

The Chief Adviser briefed Jacobson on the ongoing reform initiatives in Bangladesh, the government's efforts to build political consensus on the July declaration, and plans for the next general election.

Expressing hope that political parties will reach a consensus on the July declaration, she said, "I have not heard any dissenting voices so far."

She also called the political exercise to build consensus on the issue "difficult." At the same time, Dr. Yunus said that the theme of the proposed declaration will be "unity".

Regarding the July declaration, he further said, "We do not know whether our content will have many items or a few items. It is a difficult task due to the diversity of our views. But the process has started. Once signed, our politics will be based on the July charter."

However, the US Charge d'Affaires expressed concern over the arrest of some journalists and reports of some violence against religious minorities.

In the hour-long meeting, the Chief Adviser and the US Charge d'Affaires also discussed Dhaka's relations with neighbors, progress in resolving the Rohingya crisis, and the security situation in Myanmar.

Lamia Morshed, Senior Secretary for SDGs, was also present at the meeting.