The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to provide regular updates on terrorist activities.
The instruction came in early June, right before Eid-ul-Azha and a few months ahead of the twelfth national polls.
The officials have also been asked to submit special opinions or recommendations where applicable to the political wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to a report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, militants had started target killings even before the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery. At the time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered police and law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorism, sabotage and militant activities.
She also ordered the continuation of joint operations against militants and those conducting destructive activities from time to time. In the light of that directive, the law enforcement agencies have continued their activities under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In addition to making common people socially aware, awareness programs have been launched in various universities and colleges as part of anti-extremism and anti-militancy activities.
Extremists have been trying to incite people to commit terrorism through distorted propaganda by misinterpreting the Quran and Hadith. The police have taken steps to counter militancy and extremism by providing counter-narratives or factual interpretations.
On June 6, a report was sent to the heads of all law enforcement organizations which said that 3,786 cases were filed against criminals involved in terrorist activities aiming to foil the 10th national polls in 2014. The cases were filed between January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
Among them, 3,549 charge sheets were given while the final report of 186 cases was also submitted. Investigations into 51 cases were not completed due to various reasons. Senior Secretary of the Public Security Department under the Home Ministry Mostafizur Rahman signed the report.
Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun in this regard told the media that the police have already proved their ability to curb terrorism, extremism and militancy.
The police are continuing to maintain the zero-tolerance policy to combat militancy and terrorism, he added.