Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar on Sunday held a two-hour meeting with Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the Home Ministry after nearly 21 years.
The meeting was attended by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant to the Home Ministry Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and other senior officials.
After the meeting, Babar, who heads a BNP team on overall law-and-order issues, said the country’s law-and-order situation is concerning.
However, he emphasised the need for seizing looted police weapons and illegal firearms.
Noting the government’s efforts and sincerity in improving the situation, he mentioned that the meeting also discussed the imminent return of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his overall security. The adviser assured full cooperation in this regard.
The meeting also discussed the recent meeting between former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and top officials of S Alam Group.
After the meeting, the home adviser said that various issues were discussed, including some matters of national importance.
Babar along with former senior secretary Kamruzzaman and former additional IGP Mahbubur Rahman went to the ministry at the Secretariat to hold the meeting.
The BNP team includes several former senior secretaries and former police officers. They were also present at Sunday’s meeting.
Babar served as the state minister for home during the tenure of the four-party alliance government from 2001 to 2006.
During his tenure, he gained attention for various incidents, including the grenade attack on August 21, 2004, and the seizure of 10 truckloads of arms at the CUFL jetty in Chattogram on April 1, 2004.
Following the 1/11 political changeover in 2007, he was remanded for 78 days and then imprisoned.
Babar and Tarique were made accused in the August 21 grenade attack case filed on March 18, 2012.
Later, on October 1, 2018, a court sentenced Babar to death. However, on December 1, 2024, the High Court acquitted him of the charge in the grenade attack case.
On January 16, 2025, Babar was cleared of all cases and released from Dhaka Central Jail after 17 and a half years of detention in jail.
