Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed informed Parliament on Tuesday that 464 murder cases and 666 rape cases have been recorded across the country since the current administration took office on February 17.
In response to an inquiry from Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah, the minister provided a breakdown of law enforcement actions. He noted that 604 individuals have been detained in connection with the murder investigations, while 530 suspects were arrested for rape.
Of those apprehended, 11 individuals in murder cases and 71 in rape cases have been granted bail by the courts.
Salahuddin emphasized that the government is prioritizing these investigations, ensuring that evidence is gathered swiftly and charge sheets are filed promptly to secure strict legal penalties for perpetrators.
Addressing concerns raised by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md Mujibur Rahman regarding social order, the Home Minister condemned extortion and land grabbing as "heinous crimes" that undermine the state. He alleged that during the previous 15-year tenure of the Awami League, loyalist groups exercised illegal control over water bodies, sand quarries, and public tenders, creating a culture of extortion that left the public exhausted.
The minister asserted that the current government has implemented a "zero-tolerance" policy toward such activities. He claimed that a significant number of offenders have been brought to justice in a short period, leading to a visible decline in organized crime and illegal land occupations.
Furthermore, responding to a query from MP Jahander Ali Miah, the Home Minister outlined the current strength and expansion plans of the national police force. Bangladesh Police currently has a sanctioned strength of 218,554 positions, comprising 207,745 police posts and various non-police and outsourced roles.
To bolster national security, the government is moving to recruit an additional 14,500 personnel. This expansion includes 500 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), 4,000 Sub-Inspectors (SIs), and 10,000 constables.
The minister confirmed that the recruitment process for 2,703 vacant constable positions is already underway, and plans are in place for the direct recruitment of 2,000 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs).
