Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) has called for France’s cooperation in enhancing the capacity of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department.
The advisor made this call when French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet paid a courtesy call on the advisor at his office in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday (November 24, 2025) afternoon.
The meeting discussed various issues related to mutual interests, including increasing the capacity of the fire service between the two countries, awareness and actions regarding earthquakes, preparations for the national elections, security measures and security risks, prevention of misinformation and rumors through social media, security measures in the diplomatic zone, cooperation in increasing the investigation capacity of fire accidents, and the overall law and order situation.
Welcoming the ambassador at the beginning of the meeting, the advisor said that Bangladesh and France are close friendly countries. This existing relationship will be further strengthened in the near future. When the ambassador asked about the recent earthquake, the advisor said that the current government is working to increase awareness about earthquakes. Work is being done to increase the capacity of the fire service, including construction of buildings in accordance with building codes, increase open spaces, disaster management, and France’s cooperation is needed to create skilled and trained manpower in this sector, including the supply of high-quality fire equipment and modern equipment for earthquake rescue operations. He also sought the country’s technical cooperation to increase the investigation capacity of various fire accidents. The ambassador assured the necessary cooperation in this sector and requested to send a proposal through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When the ambassador asked about the overall preparation and security measures for the national election, the advisor said that the law enforcement agencies have been given election-related training. Stating that there is no security risk in the election, he said, “We have made all kinds of preparations for a free, fair, impartial and participatory election.” The ambassador informed the advisor that the European Union will send observers to the national election if it receives a formal proposal from the Election Commission.
When the ambassador asked about the spread of disinformation and rumors through social media, the advisor said that fascist allies are spreading rumors and disinformation at home and abroad. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are working together to prevent rumors. The ambassador He said, it is easy to spread rumors through social media but difficult to stop it. When the ambassador requested the advisor to increase security at the French embassy, he said, we have increased security overall in the diplomatic zone. In this regard, all embassies are being provided equal security.
Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs Md. Jasim Uddin Khan, Deputy Head of Mission of the French Embassy Frederic INZA and others were present in the meeting.
