Rank won’t rescue rogue police officers: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said action will be taken according to the nature of an offence, regardless of the accused person’s identity or position. He briefed media following a Detective Branch (DB) police raid at the residence of an additional deputy inspector general (DIG).

Speaking to reporters at the Home Ministry on Sunday, the minister said the officer had already been attached to the Police Headquarters and would face departmental proceedings and other legal action in accordance with the law.

Responding to questions about the raid during the Durga Puja holidays and the sentencing of 85 people by mobile courts, Ahmed said the authorities would not give the officer preferential treatment because of rank.

The minister also said this year’s Durga Puja celebrations concluded peacefully across Bangladesh, with a record 33,851 mandaps hosting festivities under tight security.

He attributed the peaceful celebrations to advance security preparations, technology-based surveillance and preventive measures by law enforcement agencies. He thanked police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar, intelligence agencies and journalists for their contributions.

Ahmed said the government had increased financial assistance for the festival, while the rice allocation for each mandap had been raised to 600 kilograms. Hindu devotees also enjoyed five consecutive days of holidays, including three days of government holidays, he added.

On an incident near Kheyaghat in Gopalganj Sadar, the minister alleged that activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations, Chhatra League and Jubo League, attempted to attack patrolling police. He said legal action had begun against those identified through video footage.

Regarding the security situation in Sajek in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Ahmed said rivalries among armed groups over influence and territorial control often heightened tensions during the tourist season. The situation was now under control, he said, adding that security forces and local political leaders were working to maintain peace.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the next general election will be held under a caretaker government system.

“The next general election will be held under a caretaker government,” he made the remarks at a press briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs following the successful and peaceful celebration of Durga Puja.

Emphasizing the government’s position on restoring the caretaker government system, he said that there was political consensus on holding the next general election under a caretaker administration.

He indicated that the caretaker government system would be restored and maintained through constitutional amendments in Parliament.

The Home Minister also addressed questions about alleged political coordination between the banned Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami aimed at overthrowing the government, saying the government had already made its position clear on the matter.

The minister also said the government had repeatedly requested India, through diplomatic channels, to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina under the applicable law and extradition treaty. He warned that no fugitive would be allowed to engage in activities aimed at destabilising the country.