The Trump administration has imposed a complete ban on entry into the United States for citizens of seven countries, including holders of Palestinian passports. The countries affected by the ban are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Laos, and Syria. The new decision will take effect from January 1.

In a statement, the White House said the entry ban has been enforced to ensure national and public security. The decision targets countries where there are serious and long-standing deficiencies in traveler screening, vetting, and information-sharing mechanisms.

Earlier, in the last week of November, the United States suspended all immigration-related activities for citizens of 19 countries. Those countries were Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Subsequently, on December 4, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in an interview with Fox News that the Trump administration had decided to expand the list of restricted countries to at least 32. However, at that time, the names of the remaining 13 countries were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, in June, the Trump administration had imposed a full ban on citizens of 12 countries and a partial ban on citizens of seven others. Those restrictions remain in force. In addition, new partial restrictions have been imposed on 15 more countries, including Nigeria.

Since returning to power, the Trump administration has continued to tighten US immigration policies. Recent attacks on National Guard members in Washington are also believed to have contributed to the administration’s decision to further strengthen these measures.

Source: Reuters‘Chhoto Sazzad’ Granted Bail in Three More Murder Cases After Four Earlier Ones

News:
Sazzad Hossain, also known as Chhoto Sazzad, an accused in multiple murder cases including the much-discussed double murder in Chattogram, has been granted bail in three more murder cases. Prison sources confirmed on Tuesday that bail documents issued by the High Court have already reached Chattogram Central Jail.

Earlier, he had secured bail in four cases. With the latest development, the top-listed criminal has now obtained bail in a total of seven murder cases.

However, despite securing bail in multiple cases, Chhoto Sazzad is not being released from jail for the time being. Following reports of bail in four cases, police on Sunday filed applications to show him arrested in two additional cases of Chandgaon Police Station. According to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) sources, the process is also underway to show him arrested in cases filed at other police stations.

Chattogram Central Jail Superintendent Shah Syed Sharif said that bail-related documents for seven murder cases against Chhoto Sazzad have recently reached the jail authorities. The latest three cases in which bail documents have arrived include the Tanvir Siddiqui murder case, the Hridoy Chandra Tarua murder case, and the Fazle Rabbi murder case— all under Chandgaon Police Station.

Police sources said Sazzad Hossain is accused in a total of 19 cases, including 10 murder cases. Several of these cases are related to high-profile killings in Chattogram, including the notorious double murder. His wife, Sharmin Akhter Tamanna, is also accused in at least eight cases, including multiple murder cases. Currently, Sazzad is detained at Rajshahi Central Jail, while his wife Tamanna is being held at Feni District Jail.

Sazzad was arrested by police in the capital Dhaka on March 15 this year. He is the son of Md. Jamal of Shikarpur Union under Hathazari upazila in Chattogram. He is widely known as Chhoto Sazzad in the Bayezid, Oxygen, and Chandgaon police station areas. At one point, police had announced a reward for information leading to his arrest.

Earlier, on May 10, Sazzad’s wife Sharmin Akhter Tamanna was arrested from the Bahaddarhat Baroipara area under Chandgaon Police Station. After Sazzad’s arrest, she drew widespread attention by remarking that “courts and bail can be bought with bundles of money,” mocking law enforcement and the justice system. A video of her statement went viral on social media, triggering widespread debate. Shortly afterward, police conducted an operation in Dhaka and arrested Sazzad.

The repeated granting of bail to Chhoto Sazzad in one murder case after another has caused concern within the police force as well. Chattogram Metropolitan Police has remained on high alert to ensure that he is not released from prison under any circumstances.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandgaon Police Station, Zahedul Kabir, said that applications have been submitted to the court to show Sazzad arrested in two additional cases.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) of the Chattogram court, Md. Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, said that the two applications to show arrest are currently under the court’s consideration. According to legal procedures, such hearings must be conducted in the presence of the accused. As the accused are currently held in different jails, he added that there is an option to conduct the hearings online.