Salahuddin warns of strict action over attacks on law enforcers in Jungle Salimpur
Minister says zero tolerance against terrorism, drugs and extortion will continue
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (26 May) said strict action will be taken over recent attacks on police and RAB members in Chattogram's Jungle Salimpur.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the National Operation Monitoring Centre at Police Headquarters in Dhaka, he said the attempt by criminals to create a "state within a state" in Jungle Salimpur had been crushed through a joint operation, with listed criminals arrested along with a large cache of weapons.
A plan is underway to build an integrated "security and administrative hub" there, including a police academy, RAB academy, police sports complex and prison, he said.
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"The audacity of criminals will be dealt with firmly, and the government's effective steps will be visible very soon," he said.
The minister also said the government has strengthened overall Eid security and highway monitoring, bringing highways, cattle markets, expressways and major bridges under round-the-clock surveillance.
He said the government would maintain a "zero tolerance" policy against all forms of irregularities, terrorism, drugs and extortion to ensure public safety and establish the rule of law.
"Law enforcement agencies are fully prepared and active to restore peace and order in the country by ending 17 years of mismanagement and criminalisation under the previous government," he said while briefing reporters after visiting the National Operation Monitoring Centre at Police Headquarters in Dhaka.
During the visit, he observed monitoring activities and gave necessary instructions to police officials on duty.
The minister said the central monitoring cell at Police Headquarters remains operational throughout the year, but it has been strengthened further from seven days before Eid-ul-Adha until seven days after the festival.
He said all highways, cattle markets, expressways, and the Jamuna and Padma bridges had been brought under round-the-clock monitoring with additional manpower deployed.
"Police members are using body-worn cameras on highways where there is no CCTV coverage," he said.
The home minister said road accidents had fallen compared to previous years, adding that the few incidents that occurred were mainly caused by public unawareness and personal negligence.
Referring to yesterday's accident involving passengers on the roof of a rod-laden truck in Tangail, he said the vehicle lost balance because of risky travel to save fares.
"It is deeply unfortunate," he said, urging people to be more careful and responsible while travelling.
The minister said the government was taking a strict stance to prevent illegal cattle markets outside approved locations.
He said an illegal cattle market recently set up under the metro rail line in Mirpur was shut down immediately.
"To prevent the use of fake notes at cattle markets, adequate counterfeit note detection machines have been installed by commercial banks and police in coordination with Bangladesh Bank," he said.
Replying to a question about long waits at the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza for northbound passengers, the minister said the queues were being caused by manual toll collection.
He said the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges would be advised to introduce digital automation, such as automatic toll deduction through cards installed in vehicles, as a permanent solution.
Special incentives are also being considered to encourage users to adopt the system, he added.
On allegations that a drug trade was being run in Savar using CCTV cameras and drones, and that journalists were attacked, the minister said three police members had already been closed over the incident.
He sought specific information from journalists and said strict legal action would be taken against those involved within the next 24 hours.
"The government will take the same tough steps against this drug syndicate and the attackers as it has taken immediate action against every heinous crime in the past three months," he said.
