Salahuddin rejects TIB findings 

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has responded to the report published by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on the crime situation during the first 100 days of the new government, saying it was mainly based on newspaper cuttings and did not include any investigation by the organization itself.

The minister made the remarks while answering questions from journalists at a ceremony held at the Home Ministry meeting room in the Secretariat on Monday. 

The event was organized to award police members for their commendable work.

Salahuddin Ahmed said TIB is not a government organization and that the real crime picture should be understood from information provided by the Police Department and the Home Ministry.

“The information collected from districts reflects the actual situation,” he said. “TIB’s report has no investigation of its own. Therefore, I do not want to comment on it.”

Recently, TIB published a report highlighting crime and human rights conditions during the government’s first 100 days in office. According to the report, 605 murders took place during the period, while 209 women and children became victims of rape and gang rape.

Responding to the findings, the Home Minister said TIB’s report was prepared mainly from newspaper reports. He said the organization does not investigate incidents directly and that reports should not be prepared without considering the actual facts.

However, he added that the media enjoys freedom and that such information is sent to the relevant authorities for verification.

The minister also claimed that crime has decreased under the current government. He said crime statistics from the last three months were compared with the same period in 2025 and showed a decline in almost all categories of crime.

According to him, monthly analyses of robbery, murder, kidnapping and other offences indicate an overall improvement in the law and order situation.

“We believe in upholding justice and suppressing wrongdoing,” he said. “It is important to recognize police officers who work according to the expectations of the people. Such recognition will encourage them to perform even better.”

The Home Minister also said action is being taken gradually against police officers who have been absconding since August 5.

He said most of them are facing cases or investigations at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Many have already been dismissed from service, while some have been made Officers on Special Duty (OSD).

“Every absconding offender will be brought under punishment in phases,” he said.

Speaking about the police force, Salahuddin Ahmed said the public would ultimately judge the performance of the police. He added that the government is working to make the police more people-friendly and that these efforts are already producing positive results.

At the award ceremony, police personnel were recognized for their contributions to several important cases and law enforcement activities.

Among those honored were officers who quickly completed DNA tests and post-mortem procedures and submitted a charge sheet in the Ramisa murder case, police members who helped save at least 50 bus passengers at Daulatdia Ghat in Rajbari, and officers who solved the murder of a teenage girl in Gazaria, Munshiganj, and arrested the accused.