Home ministry cancels diplomatic passports of ex-IGP Javed Patwary, wife: Source

The Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the diplomatic passports of former inspector general of police (IGP) and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Javed Patwary and his wife Habiba Hossain, according to an official familiar with the matter.

Additionally, immigration bans have been imposed on several former high-ranking officials of various government agencies, the ministry source also told The Business Standard today (16 January) on condition of anonymity.

The former officials are former Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) chief Banaj Kumar, former secretary of Rural Development and Cooperatives Department Mihir Kanti Majumder, and former education secretary Nazrul Islam Khan.

However, when asked about the matter, the home ministry's Public Relations Officer Faisal Hasan refused to comment.

Javed Patwary was appointed IGP following the retirement of Shahidul Haque. During his tenure in 2018, allegations surfaced about police involvement in facilitating one-sided elections, referred to as "night polls," which brought the Awami League to power. 

He served as IGP in 2018, a period marked by controversial "night polls" that saw the Awami League return to power. He was subsequently appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia. However, following the change of government, his appointment was cancelled, and he was ordered to return to Bangladesh. Despite this order, Patwari resigned from his post and left Saudi Arabia for the United States via Dubai.

These actions by the Ministry of Home Affairs signify a shift in policy and a potential investigation into the activities of these former officials.

In addition to Patwary, the passports of Banaj Kumar, Mihir Kanti Majumder, and Nazrul Islam Khan have been invalidated due to the immigration ban imposed on them.