Calls grow louder for home adviser's resignation amid deteriorating law and order

As  crime surges nationwide, mounting frustration over the government's perceived failure to address the crisis is placing the home adviser at the centre of widespread criticism. Calls for his resignation are growing louder on the streets and across social media platforms.

Despite the pressure, Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury maintains that the "law and order situation is satisfactory, though there is room for improvement", pinning the current instability on the "Awami League and its cohorts". 

His comments came during an emergency briefing around 3:00am today, following calls for his resignation from students and netizens.

Speaking on the demands for his resignation at the press briefing, the adviser said, "This is not the first time people have wanted me to step down. If I can improve the situation, there would be no reason for me to step down."

Later in the day, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul acknowledged the government's shortcomings but defended Jahangir Alam, saying, "Our home affairs adviser is working to improve the situation, as discussed in our coordination meetings." 

Asif Nazrul also pointed fingers at "fallen fascist forces", alleging that financial backing from these groups is destabilising the country's security.

Economics professor Selim Raihan, however, expressed concern over the home adviser's late-night press conference, calling it "more worrying than reassuring." 

In a Facebook post today, Raihan raised the question: "If the home affairs adviser has to hold a press conference at 3am on the law and order situation in the country, is there any way for an ordinary citizen to not be worried or panic instead of being reassured?"

The growing concerns were reinforced when RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman warned on 23 February that the country's law and order situation could worsen during Ramadan. 

He acknowledged that while robbery rates have not been fully contained, intensified patrols, checkpoints and joint operations with other law enforcement agencies are in progress.

Students demand immediate resignation

On Sunday night, Dhaka University students issued an ultimatum, demanding that the home adviser resign by 1pm on Monday. They organised a procession on the campus following a shooting incident in Banasree, where a gold trader was killed by unidentified assailants.

Shakib Ahmed, one of the protesting students, said, "Extortionists are on the rise again, which shows the home affairs adviser is unable to act effectively?" 

Another student, Nurul Gani Chagir, added, "If you can't resolve the problem with the police, army or RAB, then leave it to us university students. We won't allow a single kidnapping or rape to happen in this country."

In the afternoon, a group of students attempted to march towards the Secretariat, but police set up barricades, resulting in clashes. The protesters, part of the platform "Bangladesh Against Rape and Atrocities", demanded both rational reforms and the resignation of the home adviser.

Students at Jahangirnagar University also staged a protest, blocking a highway and warning of more intense actions if their demands were not met. 

Arifuzzaman Ujjal, convener of the Student Against Discrimination at the university, said, "Those remnants of the autocratic regime must be dismissed immediately if we are to restore peace and order."

Social media buzzes

Social media have been flooded with posts calling for the resignation of the home adviser. 

One post read, "Resign now. If such incompetent leadership governs the country, the future is beyond imagination. Resign, immediately, right now." 

Another wrote, "Shameless, audacious, the home adviser's words are starting to resemble a storyline from a film. If there were any dignity left, he should have resigned without delay."

More posts stressed the urgency of the situation: "We demand that everything be fixed within 10 days. If not, we, the student community, will once again take to the streets for the home adviser's resignation. At the same time, we urge the President to step down if he is unable to govern the country. Don't forget, we are still awake and ready to act."

Amid growing discontent, several posts called for the previous home adviser to be reinstated.