Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced that the country’s top criminals and extortionists will soon be brought under the law.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday after a meeting with Fire Service and Civil Defence officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs conference room, the minister highlighted recent developments in law enforcement.
He said that following Saturday’s (February 28) shooting incident in Chattogram, the perpetrators have been identified and various intelligence agencies are working on the case. According to the minister, a criminal group in Chattogram had demanded extortion from a major businessman two months ago. The police, under the local commissioner’s supervision, provided security to the businessman, which may have thwarted the group’s plans. In retaliation, the same group carried out another armed attack with heavy weapons two months later.
Visible Improvement in Law and Order
Salahuddin Ahmed noted that since the elected government took office, law and order has visibly improved over the past 13 days. He emphasized that a stable political government brings overall stability to the country. Referring to a recent brutal murder in Narsingdi, he stated that the main suspect was arrested within 24 hours. He added that in two or three other similar incidents, law enforcement agencies were able to quickly apprehend the culprits, demonstrating their commitment and effectiveness.
Armed Forces and RAB
When asked how long the armed forces would remain deployed in the field, the Home Minister said the decision would be made at a high level after evaluating the situation. He noted that the military itself prefers not to remain in field operations due to disruptions to training and other duties. While improvements in law enforcement are visible, he said it is not yet possible to specify when the military will be withdrawn.
Regarding changes to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) during the interim government, Salahuddin Ahmed said there is public demand for reform. Recommendations were also made in the national ID discussions in July to take decisions on RAB’s structure and operations. He explained that a careful evaluation will determine how the specialized force can continue, define its jurisdiction, ensure accountability, maintain transparency, and deliver maximum service.
Legal Protection for July Uprising Participants
The Home Minister stated that individuals who led or participated in the July mass movement must be provided legal and constitutional protection. He emphasized that the government is committed to honoring these assurances in any related decisions.
Interim Government Ordinances
On the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government, Salahuddin Ahmed said the sensitive ordinances will be presented on the first day of the National Parliament session for review.
Diplomatic Meetings
On Sunday morning, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed met with India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, and later with Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Imran Haider.
According to the ministry’s press release, during the meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, the Home Minister said bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India should be based on people-to-people contact, rather than political party interactions. He emphasized that Bangladesh seeks to renew bilateral relations based on lessons from past experiences and requested that cross-border killings be reduced to zero.
During the meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner, the discussions focused on mutual interests, regional developments, and strengthening bilateral ties in a cordial manner.
