'No leniency for extortionists, regardless of influence'

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has vowed that no extortionist—regardless of power or position—will be spared, as the government intensifies its crackdown on organized crime and narcotics.

“No extortionist will be exempt—no matter how influential or powerful they are,” said the Home Affairs Adviser during a press briefing on Monday, July 28, following a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka. “No one will escape the reach of the law.”

Addressing the rising concerns over narcotics, he acknowledged that the drug trade has deeply infiltrated society. While more drug dealers are being arrested and seizures have increased, the so-called godfathers remain out of reach. 

“Some agencies bear responsibility for this failure. We're not getting full cooperation from everyone. I won’t name names for now, but it's a reality,” he said.

Chowdhury also referred to a high-level delegation recently sent to Cox’s Bazar to evaluate progress in the anti-drug drive, stating that the operation has seen “some positive results.”

On police preparations for the upcoming national election, he said a phased training program will begin in August to enhance readiness. “One batch will undergo training while another is on duty, and this will continue until the election,” he explained.

When asked about the transfer of district-level police officials, he clarified that changes in postings of SPs and OCs are part of a continuous process. “This is routine. Transfers and postings are happening all the time.”

Responding to questions about recent discussions at the Chief Adviser’s Office, he said those details had already been briefed by the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary and declined to elaborate further.

Regarding the ongoing combing operations against extortion, Chowdhury cited recent arrests in Gulshan as evidence of progress. “We’ve cracked down on extortion rings. Just because someone presents themselves as a ‘coordinator’ or uses a big name doesn’t mean they’ll be spared. No criminal will go unpunished,” he asserted.

The adviser reiterated that a strong and coordinated approach is needed to tackle drug networks and criminal syndicates. “We’re committed to restoring law and order. Everyone must be held accountable—without exception.”