Although the Election Commission is busy with preparatory work to organize the 13th National Parliament elections in December, it is facing complications over the redelimate parliamentary constituency. The Election Commission is unable to re-delineate the boundaries without amending the law in this regard. Although a proposal to amend the law has already been sent to the government, the delineation process is not progressing as it has not been done yet. However, if the law is not amended within the specified time, the EC is considering organizing the elections based on the previous controversial boundaries.

A national daily report said that there are complications regarding the boundaries of 55 constituencies of the National Parliament. The Election Commission has received more than 360 applications for delimitation  of these constituencies so far. EC officials said that the EC will prioritize public applications for redelineation of parliamentary constituencies. In this case, the process will start only after the law is amended. This process is pending as the law has not been amended. They said that it takes at least 6 months to redelimate the boundaries. The law needs to be amended quickly if the elections are to be held in December.

On the other hand, the Election Reform Commission, formed by the interim government, has proposed to do this work under an independent commission instead of leaving the work of delimiting parliamentary constituencies to the EC. They have proposed to the government that delimiting parliamentary constituencies is a complex and time-consuming matter, which requires specialized knowledge and expertise. There is considerable room for doubt whether the Election Commission has the necessary expertise for this work. For this reason, the Reform Commission has proposed to form a separate Delimitation Commission instead of the Election Commission.

However, the Election Commission has written to the Consensus Commission objecting to this matter. Rejecting the need for it, the EC says that the formula for delimiting constituencies recommended by the Reform Commission will increase the number of seats in urban areas.

In this regard, Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar told the media that 360 applications have been received so far for delimiting the boundaries of 55 constituencies. Taking these applications into consideration, we have already sent a proposal to amend the law. The government is working on it. We hope that the law will be amended soon. If it is not possible to determine the boundaries by amending the law, the elections may be held based on the previous boundaries, said EC Anwarul Islam.

Describing the comments made by US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard to Indian media outlet NDTV on minority persecution and the Islamic caliphate in Bangladesh as 'serious', Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain said, 'That is the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as expressed by the Office of the Chief Adviser (on Tulsi Gabbard's statement).'

Adviser Touhid made such comments in response to a question from journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Earlier, in an interview given to NDTV World in New Delhi on Monday, Tulsi Gabbard said that the long-standing unfortunate persecution, killings and other abuses against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics and other religious minorities is a major area of concern for the US government, President Trump and his administration. Discussions between President Trump's new cabinet and the Bangladesh government are just beginning, but it has become one of the main areas of concern.

The interim government expressed deep concern in a statement late night after Tulsi Gabbard's statement. The statement from the press wing of the chief adviser said, "We have noted with deep concern and sadness the comments made by the United States Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard. She alleged that there is persecution and killing of religious minorities in Bangladesh and the threat of Islamic terrorists in the country, which is rooted in the ideology and objectives of ruling and operating an Islamic caliphate. Her statement is misleading and harmful, which hurts the image and reputation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has always been well-known for its tradition of practicing inclusive and peaceful Islam. Bangladesh has made significant progress in the fight against terrorism and extremism." The statement also said that Tulsi Gabbard's comments were not based on any specific evidence or allegations. They portray an entire nation in a broad and illogical manner. "Like many countries around the world, Bangladesh faces the challenge of extremism, but continues to work in partnership with the international community, including the United States, to address these issues through law enforcement, social reform, and other counterterrorism efforts."

Diplomatic establishments and important business establishments are located in the capital's Gulshan. Security is given utmost importance to this area. However, after the country's political situation changed, SS Builders has been accused of carrying out two filmy-style terrorist attacks to expand its influence in Gulshan and occupy the floor of the building.

It is alleged that this attack was carried out in front of law enforcement officers. As a result, questions are being raised about the speed of law enforcement officers in the case of such attacks in the diplomatic area, which has the highest security priority.

Recently, there was an incident of two attacks by hiring terrorists to occupy the 30,000 square feet floor of the 18th floor of Gulshan Center Point located in Gulshan- 2 in the capital.

It is alleged that SS Builders owner Sabbir Islam tried to occupy the floor with hired terrorists.

Located in the heart of the diplomatic neighborhood Gulshan-2, this building houses the offices of several multinational companies, including the famous superstore Unimart. As a result, businessmen living around the building are expressing concern over the frequent attacks.

It is learned that in 2006, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with the owner of the building, SS Builders. It was mentioned that about 14,000 square feet of the 10th floor of the building would be sold for Tk. 15 crore. Later, SS Builders paid Tk. 5 crore to the owner of the building in various installments until 2021. But it has been alleged that the company could not deliver 14,000 square feet of the 10th floor due to non-payment.

Recently, the 18th floor of the building was vacated. Taking that opportunity, the owner of SS Builders sent a group of terrorists to attack the 30,000 square feet of the 18th floor of the building at midnight on February 28.

After the first attempt was unsuccessful, another group of terrorists sent by SS Builders tried to enter the 18th floor of the building on March 9. Later, when the members in charge of the building's security tried to prevent the terrorists from entering, they physically tortured the security guards.

The owners of the building called the law enforcement officers, who arrived there. Although the police visited the scene, the attackers continued to wreak havoc throughout the night without any hindrance. No action was taken by the law enforcement officers to stop the attackers.

Meanwhile, an investigation is underway into the two attacks. However, before the investigation report was released, several important pieces of information, including CCTV footage of the attack, were leaked on social media. This has raised questions about the role of the police.

It is learned that on the day of the incident, the attackers vandalized various properties during their intrusion and deliberately destroyed CCTV cameras to destroy evidence of such activities.

However, in the 4-minute and 15-second CCTV footage that was circulated on social media, several attackers were seen standing in front of the building with a motorcycle and sticks in hand. Then, three more people arrived there on a motorbike at high speed. Then, approximately 20 to 25 people entered the building in a group with sticks in hand. Then, another camera inside the elevator showed them entering the elevator in a group. At this time, one was seen wearing a red helmet and two were wearing caps. Then, one person stood holding the elevator on the 18th floor and the rest entered. After vandalizing the inside, they were seen going down in the elevator in a group. Everyone was seen leaving the building with sticks in hand. Later, they were seen kicking and hitting the boundary gate outside the building with sticks. At one point, images of breaking the gate and entering and vandalizing were seen.

When asked about these matters, attempts were made to contact Gulshan Police Station DC Tarek Mahmud on mobile phone and in person several times, but it was not possible.

DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S. N. Md. Nazrul Islam said, Gulshan Police Station DC Tarek Mahmud can speak well about the matter. I heard about the attack there. This is the problem of two heavyweight businessmen. We are trying to reconcile. But there is nothing to panic here.

A female journalist was gang-raped in Pallabi, Mirpur, the capital. She was gang-raped overnight in an under-construction building in the Balurghat area of Pallabi police station on Monday (March 17) at around 1 am.

A case was filed with Pallabi police station on Tuesday (March 18) in this incident.

The accused are Enamul Haque, Hamidur Rahman, Chhota Yasin, Bora Yasin, Shahin, Robi, Hasan, Anu and 8 unidentified people.

According to the complaint, the female journalist works as a senior reporter in a newspaper. A month ago, she came to know that an organized gang was bringing innocent men and women to the Matikata area of the cantonment, making obscene videos and blackmailing them to extort money. The female journalist herself took the initiative to catch the gang. For this reason, on Monday at 11 pm, when she went to the alley of the Singer showroom in Matikata area to collect information, the accused mentioned in the case surrounded her from all sides. They beat her indiscriminately and dragged her to a secluded place. At around 1 am, she was taken from Matikata area to an under-construction building in Balurghat area of Pallabi police station. There, she was raped throughout the night in a dark, empty room on the third floor.

Pallabi police station OC Nazrul Islam said that two people have been arrested in the incident. The woman who was raped identified herself as a journalist. The victim has been sent to the One-Stop Crisis Center of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.