Combing operation from now on to catch identified criminals, improve law & order: Home adviser
The government will firmly suppress any activities that disrupt public order and public safety, says Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Considering the situation, the government will conduct special or combing operations from now on to catch identified criminals and improve the law and order situation, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said.
Saying the government can conduct such operations at any time, the adviser said, "In this case, we want cooperation from the general public and everyone. The government will firmly suppress any activities that disrupt public order and public safety."
"From now on," the adviser said when reporters asked when the operations would begin.
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The adviser was talking to reporters after the 11th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the home ministry in the Secretariat today (13 July).
During the briefing, the adviser said the interim government is determined to bring all those involved in recent killings across the country under the law, including the brutal murder of a businessman, in front of the Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital on 9 July, for not paying extortion money.
"The government is working to ensure proper trials and exemplary punishment for these incidents. Law enforcement agencies are very active in this regard and are taking action immediately after incidents occur and arresting criminals," he added.
Jahangir said, "The government is treating the brutal murder incident in Mitford with utmost importance. Of the 19 people mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) filed in this murder case, seven have already been arrested by police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the army.
"Intelligence teams are conducting operations in various locations outside Dhaka to arrest the remaining accused."
"Immediately after the incident on Wednesday evening, police arrested the accused Moin, and the army arrested Tareq with weapons from the scene. Two more people were arrested on Friday afternoon.
"Additionally, one person was arrested on Friday night. Last night, DB [Detective Branch] arrested two more people in connection with this incident. In total, seven people have been arrested in this incident so far, of whom six have been identified from the video footage [of the crime]," he added.
The home adviser said if more accused are found during the investigation, they will also be brought under the law. "The DB team is actively working on this matter," he added.
Jahangir also said the government will seriously examine whether there was any negligence on the part of the administration or law enforcement agencies in this incident.
"Steps are being taken to bring the trial of this murder to the Speedy Trial Tribunal. Meanwhile, one person has also been arrested in the Khulna murder case," he added.
The home adviser said a criminal is a criminal regardless of which party they belong to. "No one is being spared based on political or other identities, nor will they be in the future. Police will not give shelter to any criminal," he added.
The adviser said criminal tendencies in society are increasing day by day due to social unrest, intolerance, moral degradation, and other reasons. "The responsibility to reduce crime in the country and society lies with everyone, alongside law enforcement agencies."
"In this regard, law enforcement agencies, media, political parties, social organisations, parents, students, teachers, and the general public - everyone must play a responsible role," he added.
He said public awareness is urgent so that no one takes the law into their own hands. "If any incident or crime occurs that disrupts public safety, it should be reported to law enforcement agencies as quickly as possible.
"Law enforcement agencies will take appropriate measures in this regard," Jahangir added.
He said law enforcement agencies are regularly conducting operations against all types of criminal activities, including murder, theft, robbery, extortion, snatching, terrorism, kidnapping, violence against women, mob violence, and drug smuggling.
