No disappearances, crossfire under BNP govt: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has claimed that no enforced disappearances, crossfire incidents or extrajudicial killings have occurred during the current government’s tenure, saying the law and order situation has improved.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after the passing-out parade of the 27th probationary sergeant and 43rd cadet sub-inspector (SI) batches at Bangladesh Police Academy in Sarda, Rajshahi, on Thursday.

Urging the newly recruited officers not to reproduce discrimination they may have faced in their personal lives, Salahuddin said police must serve people from all walks of life without fear or bias.

He said the police were responsible not only for maintaining law and order but also for ensuring public safety and facilitating justice. Officers must avoid misconduct, discriminatory behaviour and the misuse of force, and earn public trust through professional and humane policing, he added.

The minister highlighted emerging challenges, including cybercrime, online fraud, forgery, drug-related offences and human trafficking. He said tackling such crimes required modern technology, data analysis, scientific knowledge and coordination among institutions. 
 
A separate cyber unit was already operating to combat cybercrime, he added.
Asked about rumours that an Awami League leader might return to the country in December, Salahuddin said the government was not concerned about who wanted to return or when. Everyone would face justice under existing laws as the government worked to establish the rule of law, he said.

On the arrest and remand of a lawmaker’s son in Natore, the minister said the action reflected the establishment of the rule of law. Regarding the ongoing by-election, he said voting was progressing well, with turnout at around 30 per cent at the time.

Salahuddin also said the government had taken steps to reinstate police officers previously excluded from recruitment on political grounds.

On August 2, the government appointed 58 such officers 57 from the 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) batch and one from the 28th. The caretaker government had cancelled their preliminary viva voce results in 2007 over allegations of irregularities and corruption.

The passing-out parade marked the completion of training for 84 male probationary sergeants and 162 cadet sub-inspectors who had been excluded from the recruitment process in 2006. The sergeants began training on April 30, while the SI trainees started on April 20.

Separately, the minister said the cause of death of retired Bangladesh Air Force Flight Lieutenant Tahsif Souri would be determined after a preliminary investigation and autopsy. Speaking to reporters after the programme, he said further details would be available once the post-mortem report and other relevant findings had been examined.