We have not been vindictive, nor do we want to be: Law minister
Minister says govt seeks impartial policing and accountability.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said the government has not acted vindictively and has no intention of doing so, while stressing the need for impartial policing and accountability.
"We will continue working under the prime minister's guidance to ensure good governance for the people of Bangladesh," he said at an exchange meeting at the Satkhira deputy commissioner's office at 10am today (13 September).
The meeting discussed law and order, corruption, drug control, good governance and accountability in the district.
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The minister said the police force had previously been turned into a partisan institution and that the government had to restore officers' morale and confidence after August 2024.
"The police force had been turned into a partisan force. After August 2024, we had to restore their morale and courage. They are now trying to work impartially and are continuing to do so," he said.
On politically motivated cases, the minister said police had previously acted as complainants in cases intended to harass political opponents.
"In the past, police used to be the complainants in politically motivated harassment cases. Since 5 August, there has not been a single example of police filing such a politically motivated case as complainants," he said.
He added that police could not refuse to accept a case filed by an individual, but would examine its merits.
"But if an individual files a case, police cannot refuse to accept it. Police will examine the matter. We have now reached this balance. There are no more false or fabricated cases like before," he said.
On drug control, Asaduzzaman said narcotics were entering Bangladesh from neighbouring countries and warned that the issue could not be addressed by focusing only on domestic offenders.
"It is not only a handful of people in our country who are involved in drugs; consignments of narcotics are also coming from neighbouring countries," he said.
He also called for action against both financial and intellectual forms of corruption.
"Corruption takes two forms — financial and intellectual. We have to stop both," he said.
The minister said the government was taking a similar stance against political criminalisation.
"Just as we are speaking out against drugs, we are also speaking out against political criminalisation.
We do not want to tolerate any form of political criminality," he said.
