People no longer accept AL politics: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday said the people of Bangladesh would never accept the politics of the Awami League, while announcing a series of government initiatives to curb drug trafficking and support the development of Cox's Bazar.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of a new 500-bed building at Cox's Bazar Medical College Hospital, the minister alleged that the Awami League was attempting to create instability in the country.

"What is Hasina, what has she become? Sometimes only noise and chatter can be heard. They are trying to create instability in Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh will never accept their politics," he said.

Earlier, Salahuddin inaugurated the Cox's Bazar Development Authority's (CoxDA) Flat Development Project-1.

He said the government was implementing various plans to harness the country's blue economy, expressing confidence that the proper use of marine resources and seaports would generate significant revenue.

Describing Cox's Bazar as a region with enormous tourism potential, the minister said it could make a major contribution to the national economy. He stressed that tourism development must be environmentally sustainable rather than centred solely on high-rise construction.

He said some areas had been declared Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) during the previous government and directed the authorities to review those decisions through surveys to facilitate sustainable tourism development.

The minister also announced plans to establish a Marine University in the Cox's Bazar region to promote higher education, marine research and the development of skilled human resources.

Later, after a district-level meeting on drug prevention and law and order at the Hill Down Circuit House, Salahuddin said the government would prepare an impartial list of the country's top drug traffickers.

"The task force committee will prepare a neutral list of drug smugglers and traders, and further action will be taken based on that list," he told reporters.

He said camps would be established along major drug trafficking routes through joint operations or in coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Patrols by the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard would also be intensified to prevent drug smuggling through rivers and sea routes.

The minister added that fishermen and fishing vessels in Teknaf and Ukhiya would be registered to help identify drug traffickers. He also said proposals had been submitted to establish two Bangladesh Army camps in Teknaf to prevent abductions in the hilly areas.

The meeting was chaired by Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan and attended by lawmakers, senior government officials, members of law enforcement agencies, representatives of political parties and civil society leaders.

Among those present at the hospital foundation stone ceremony were Ukhiya-Teknaf MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, Maheshkhali-Kutubdia MP Alomgir Mohammad Mahfuz Ullah Farid and reserved-seat MP Shamima Ara Swapna.