United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday directed law enforcement agencies to eliminate middlemen from police stations across the country, including those under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). He issued the directive while visiting Ramna Model Police Station in the capital where he inspected different sections including detention rooms (thana Hajat room) and reviewed the overall environment. During the visit, the Home Minister also spoke with the Officer-in-Charge and other on-duty police personnel, inquired about their work conditions and listened to their concerns. Emphasising integrity and professionalism, he instructed police members to provide services to the public with honesty, fairness and sincerity. He warned that strict action would be taken if any police officer or member found guilty of negligence or corruption.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday told Parliament that the government is committed to maintaining the law and order situation and has undertaken a series of comprehensive and coordinated measures to ensure it across the country. “The present democratic government remains firmly committed to maintaining law and order in the country and Bangladesh Police has undertaken plans to materialise the various goals of maintaining law and order and are implementing a range of operational strategies in line with government directives,” he said in response to a starred tabled question from independent lawmaker elected from Brahmanbaria-2 Rumeen Farhana.  “Based on intelligence inputs, regular and special drives are being conducted to recover illegal arms, explosives and narcotics, and legal actions are being taken accordingly,” he said. He added, “Checkposts have been set up at key points on roads and highways and both day and night patrols have been strengthened to prevent criminal activities.” Visible police patrols alongside enhanced intelligence surveillance are being carried out to prevent theft, robbery and mugging, he added.. “Community engagement has been strengthened through beat policing, community policing and open house day programmes to ensure public participation in maintaining law and order,” said the minister. The minister also said that modern technology is being increasingly used to combat crime. “Installation of CCTV cameras at important locations and the use of information technology are helping identify criminals and bring them to justice,” he said. He further informed the House that capacity building of police personnel is ongoing through modern training at home and abroad. The Case Data Management System (CDMS) is being used to store records of cases and crimes, which is assisting investigation processes,he added.

The process to increase the manpower of Bangladesh Coast Guard to 10,000 is currently underway, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking the 31st founding anniversary and Coast Guard Day 2026 at the Coast Guard headquarters in Agargaon in the capital. The minister said the Bangladesh Coast Guard has become a symbol of trust in ensuring the security of the country’s maritime and coastal areas. Established in 1995 under the visionary leadership of then prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia with the motto “Guardian at Sea,” the force is being developed into a modern and capable organisation through various government initiatives, he added. Coast Guard has been actively engaged in preventing drug smuggling, curbing human trafficking, combating piracy, and protecting forest and fisheries resources in the Sundarbans, said the minister. Over the past year, the force conducted 29 successful drives in the Sundarbans, arresting 35 pirates and recovering a large cache of illegal arms and timber, he added. On modernization of Coast Guard, the minister said three surveillance drones have recently been added to the force. Construction of one multi-role response vessel and two offshore patrol vessels is progressing with funding from JICA and plans are also in place to procure bulletproof high-speed boats through Khulna Shipyard and to add helicopters and maritime surveillance systems in the future, said the minister. Director General of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haq delivered the welcome speech, while Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Manjur Morshed Chowdhury spoke as a special guest. During the event, the minister awarded a total of 14 Coast Guard personnel for their bravery and service.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday told Parliament that the government has taken a series of comprehensive initiatives to further strengthen security at the country’s international airports. “Overall security at the country’s international airports has already been ensured. However, Bangladesh Police has taken a number of plans and is implementing them to further enhance security,” he said in response to a starred tabled question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Noakhali-5 Mohammed Fakhrul Islam in Parliament. He said checkpoints have been set up at entry and exit points as well as other important places while police patrols have been intensified in airport areas. The minister said a multi-layered security system has been introduced to ensure effective protection, and necessary actions are being taken based on intelligence inputs to prevent any ill attempt. He said security services are being strengthened through coordinated efforts and information sharing among police, intelligence agencies and airport authorities. Highlighting surveillance system, Salahuddin said, “Police surveillance has been increased to prevent theft and snatching incidents, CCTV cameras have been installed at important places and modern information technology is being used to ensure overall security.” He further said modern equipment and advanced technology are being used, adding, “Scanning system has been strengthened to ensure that no prohibited items can enter airport premises.” The minister also said special training programmes are being conducted to combat terrorism, ensure cyber security and handle emergency situation effectively. He said security has also been reinforced through the introduction of technology-based modern baggage systems, expansion of immigration counters, installation of advanced scanning machines, manpower increase and reorganization, and the use of body-worn cameras. “Strict monitoring has been put in place to prevent passenger harassment, and help desks have been introduced at airports to assist travellers,” he added.

The government will procure 18 lakh tonnes of Boro paddy and rice at Tk 36 and Tk 49 per kg respectively during the current season starting from May 3, said Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday. Besides, the government will procure 50,000 tonnes of wheat at Tk 36 per kg, he said while speaking at a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID), The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at Secretariat with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed in the chair. The procurement drive of Boro paddy and wheat will commence on May 3 and continue until August 31. Of the total procurement, the government will procure 5 lakh tonnes of paddy at Tk 36 per kg, 12 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice at Tk 49 per kg and one lakh tonnes of Atap rice at Tk 48. Besides, the procurement of rice is scheduled to begin on May 15 and will continue until August 31. State Minister for Food Abdul Bari was present there. The minister assured that the country has sufficient stocks. "Currently, government warehouses hold a reserve of 1.7 to 1.8 million tonnes of rice," he said.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday said the new Bangladesh achieved through sacrifices would ensure a police force free from political interference. "We are going through a historic transformation where the responsibilities of new officers are much greater. In the new Bangladesh achieved through the sacrifices of martyrs of July the police force will be kept completely free from political interference," he said. The minister came up with the remarks while addressing the passing-out parade of the 43rd BCS (Police) batch at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sarada of Rajshahi.

A parliamentary special committee on Tuesday agreed to recommend that the indemnity ordinance issued under the interim government to provide legal protection to individuals including students who participated in the July Uprising of 2024, be adopted in full as a bill in Parliament. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed disclosed this while talking to reporters after the committee’s first meeting at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. He said the committee unanimously supported the ordinance, which grants indemnity to those involved in the uprising, describing them as ‘brave fighters’ whose legal protection is both a moral and state responsibility. Following the meeting, Law Minister Asaduzzaman said the committee has also started reviewing 133 ordinances promulgated during the tenure of the interim government. “We are carefully examining each ordinance in detail. A comprehensive report will be finalised and submitted by April 2,” he said. He added that the primary objective of the review is to ensure a balance between constitutional provisions and public expectations. “Our goal is to move forward by ensuring harmony between the Constitution and the aspirations of people. However, the supremacy of the Constitution will be upheld in all cases,” he added. The Law Minister also clarified that the committee’s recommendations will not automatically become law. Instead, the panel will submit its observations and proposals to Parliament which will take the final decision on whether those recommendations should be transformed into law, he said. Meanwhile, according to a press release from Parliament Secretariat, the first meeting of a special committee formed by the Parliament was held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, chaired by Committee chairman Zainul Abedin, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman and Member of Parliament for Barishal-3. Committee members present included Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed, Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam,  Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Dr Muhammad Osman Faruk, A M Mahbub Uddin, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari, Muhammad Nowshad Zamir, State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmeen, Md Mujibur Rahman, Md Rafiqul Islam Khan, and G M Nazrul Islam. At the outset, the committee observed a one-minute silence and offered prayers seeking eternal peace for those killed during the July 2024 mass uprising. The meeting held detailed discussions on a wide range of ordinances issued by the interim government. These included amendments related to the Anti-Corruption Commission, Special Security Force, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, government service laws, counter-terrorism measures, prevention of enforced disappearance, police reforms, human trafficking and migrant smuggling prevention, land use regulation and agricultural land protection, environmental conservation, civil aviation, and various development authorities, among others. Key ordinances such as the “July Uprising (Protection and Accountability) Ordinance, 2026”, “Prevention of Enforced Disappearance Ordinance, 2025" and its 2026 amendment, and “Police Commission Ordinance, 2025” were also reviewed during the session. The committee decided to continue examining the remaining ordinances at subsequent meetings. It further resolved to assess the necessity and validity of all ordinances and submit a comprehensive report to Parliament at the earliest opportunity. After the meeting, committee chairman Zainul Abedin told reporters that a couple of members "have some opinions" on some of the issues in these ordinances.  "We have asked them to discuss them in the next meeting. If they cannot complete it in the next meeting, I have asked them to give it in writing," he disclosed.  The committee chairman said that their deliberations will resume tomorrow at 2 pm. If all the checks and selections are not completed, there will be more meetings. They hope to be able to submit a report by April 2.  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said two suspects in Hadi murder case who were arrested in India will be brought back to Bangladesh under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries. “The Home Ministry has already taken steps regarding the arrest of the two accused while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been requested to take necessary measures to bring them back in line with the the extradition agreement,” said the minister. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending a district law and order committee meeting in Cox’s Bazar, his first such meeting in his home district after assuming office. Efforts on to bring back 2 Hadi murder suspects held in India: IGP Salahuddin Ahmed also said a list of drug traders is being prepared in a highly professional manner. “The list will not be made public as doing so could create political influence and lead to possible errors,” he said. Incidents of mob violence will not be allowed in the country and all terrorists and extortionists will be brought under the law to ensure good governance, said Salahuddin. The minister also announced measures to restore discipline in the tourism sector of Cox’s Bazar. He said illegal permanent and temporary structures set up on the sand dunes along the sea beach will be removed within a week and the tourist areas will be kept clean. He further said CCTV cameras will be installed at important points in the town to improve the law and order situation. Among others, lawmakers Shahjahan Chowdhury and Lutfur Rahman Kajol, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman and Cox’s Bazar district BNP general secretary Shamima Ara Swapna were present.  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday said the government will soon start the recruitment process of 10,000 police constables. Necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the police force, he told reporters at a briefing at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The Minister said instructions have also been given to expedite recruitment to fill up 180 vacant posts of police sergeants. Recruitment to these posts will be completed through proper examinations in near future, he added. Besides, sub-inspectors (SIs) and assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) will be recruited through the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, said the Minister. The Home Minister said law and order committees at district and upazila levels across the country have been reconstituted. An office order in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs earlier in the day. He added that directives have been given to formulate plans and implement them accordingly to improve law and order situation.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said 2,701 police constables will be recruited on an emergency basis to address the existing manpower shortage in the force. Talking to journalists at the Secretariat, the minister said restoring law and order and rebuilding public confidence remain the government’s top priorities. He said efforts are underway to make law enforcement agencies more people-friendly, in line with public expectations. The Home Minister also warned that prompt action would be taken against anyone obstructing police in the discharge of their lawful duties. “No one — whether for political or social reasons — will be allowed to interfere with police work,” he said. At the same time, he said, police activities would be closely monitored to ensure that the public does not suffer in any way. Al firearms issued during the previous government would be reviewed to ensure they were distributed in accordance with the law, the minister added.