Bangladesh’s interim government focused on improving law and order situation, says new security adviser

New Bangladeshi security official focuses on improving law and order, addressing security concerns, and increasing agricultural production.

A newly-appointed top Bangladeshi security official on Monday (August 19, 2024) acknowledged that law and order is the main challenge for the interim government and said that the new administration is focused on improving the situation as quickly as possible.

Talking to the media, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury emphasised the urgency of addressing security concerns and outlined his dual responsibilities in both home affairs and agriculture.

"Our main challenge at the Ministry of Home Affairs is law and order. We are focused on improving the situation as quickly as possible,” Lt. Gen (retd) Chowdhury, who was appointed on Friday, was quoted as saying by the UNB news.

Within three days of his appointment, Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain was replaced as home adviser in the interim government of Bangladesh by Lt Gen (retd) Chowdhury, amid criticism of the ex-army officer's conduct by student leaders, media reports on Saturday said.

The law and order situation deteriorated in Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5 following massive protests against her government over a controversial quota system in government jobs.

Over 230 people were killed in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League government, taking the death toll to more than 600 since the massive protest by students first started in mid-July.

An interim government was formed after the fall of the Hasina-led government, and 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed as its Chief Adviser.