Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said ensuring a sustainable improvement in the country’s law and order situation remains the government’s top priority.

“Restoring public confidence in the police depends on professionalism, accountability and strict adherence to the rule of law,” he said.

Addressing interaction with officers and personnel of all police units in Rajshahi, he said the police force is now being run in accordance with the Police Regulations of Bengal (PRB) and existing laws free from political influence.

“The Home Ministry has not interfered in police operations for political purposes and will not do so in future. Police must discharge their duties impartially and professionally,” he said.

The meeting, organised by the Rajshahi Range and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) at the Rajshahi Police Lines, was chaired by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Ali Hossain Fakir. RMP Commissioner Mohammad Faizul Kabir delivered the welcome address.

DIG,  Rajshahi Range Ashik Sayeed also spoke while senior police officials, including Additional IGP (Administration) AKM Awlad Hossain and Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Khondoker Rafiqul Islam attended the programme.

The Home Minister said the police suffered severe institutional damage under the previous (Awami League government) administration due to political misuse, but noted that the force has made significant progress in regaining public trust over the past five months through reforms and professional policing.

He said the government has introduced a reward-and-accountability mechanism under which police personnel demonstrating exceptional bravery and dedication to public service which are being recognised through promotion ratings, IGP medals, certificates and financial incentives.

Announcing a series of modernisation initiatives, the home minister said high-capacity cyber laboratories will be established in every metropolitan city and gradually expanded to districts based on crime patterns to strengthen the country’s capacity to tackle cybercrime and dark web-related offences.

He also said the CID’s forensic and chemical laboratories are being upgraded to improve criminal investigations.

To support the growing number of women in the force, the minister directed the immediate establishment of specialised gynaecology units at all divisional police hospitals.

Ahmed also announced plans to strengthen police infrastructure by restoring police custody of case dockets under a cabinet decision, developing modern evidence storage facilities, GR rooms, detention centres and court support infrastructure, while development proposals for more than 100 model police stations are currently under process.

Warning against mob violence, Ahmed said the government would pursue a zero-tolerance policy against mob justice while protecting the constitutional right to peaceful gathering.

“Peaceful demonstrations and mob violence are not the same. Those involved in illegal confinement and mob violence must be dealt with firmly under the law,” he said.

Calling upon police personnel to restore the force’s image through integrity, courage and professionalism, the Home Minister urged them to strengthen public confidence by ensuring fair, lawful and people-centric policing.

Later, responding to a question on former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed at a media briefing, the minister said the former police chief had reportedly been granted bail in the United Arab Emirates on the condition that he would not leave the country.

He said Bangladesh has sought a certified copy of the bail order to verify its conditions, while the Home Secretary and Bangladesh’s ambassador to the UAE are maintaining close communication with the authorities.

The government has also appointed an experienced law firm and instructed it to seek cancellation of the bail, expressing hope that the former police chief would be brought back to Bangladesh through due legal process.

(BSS)