United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Wednesday said the government is making every effort to curb criminal activities but has no plan at present to launch an operation similar to ‘Operation Clean Heart’. The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the Cyber Police Centre in Dampara area of Chattogram city in the afternoon. The government has decided to set up state-of-the-art digital forensic laboratories in all eight divisions of the country to combat cybercrime, he said. The minister said new security threats are emerging in cyberspace including incitement to violence through digital platforms and the leakage of sensitive information about individuals and institutions. With the growing use of digital technology, new avenues for crime are also emerging, he said, adding that social media is being used to spread rumours and malicious propaganda, incite violence and carry out digital blackmail. These activities are putting individuals and institutions at risk, he added. Salahuddin said the Cyber Police Unit has already started operations to strengthen the police force's capacity to tackle cybercrime. The proposed digital forensic laboratories, equipped with advanced technology, would help ensure the speedy trial of cybercrime cases and meet the expectations of people seeking justice, he said. Replying to questions from reporters , the home minister said it is not unusual for policemen to face attacks while carrying out their duties to prevent crime. The Cyber Police Centre in Dampara was built with assistance from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) at a cost of around Tk 59.08 crore. South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-Joon, Chattogram-10 MP Sayeed Al Noman, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, Additional IGP Sardar Nurul Amin, Additional IGP Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain and Chattogram Police Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali, among others, attended the programme.