Reto Renggli, ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed a range of issues, including law and order, security cooperation, counter-terrorism, police reform, financial sector reforms, prevention of money laundering and digital fraud, and the recovery of laundered money from abroad.
The minister welcomed the ambassador at the start of the meeting, while the envoy congratulated him on assuming his new responsibilities.
Salahuddin Ahmed said improving the law and order situation remains a top priority for the government. “All political parties have the right to carry out democratic activities, including meetings and rallies, but these should not cause public suffering,” he said.
He also criticised past practices, alleging that law enforcement agencies were previously used excessively against political opponents.
The Swiss ambassador assured technical and strategic support in strengthening the capacity of the Bangladesh Police and advancing reform initiatives. He also sought to know about the challenges in implementing the government’s reform agenda and stressed the importance of an effective parliament for democratic governance.
Referring to his participation in the Global Fraud Summit 2026 held in Vienna on March 16–17, the minister said digital fraud now accounts for around 40% of global fraud cases, describing it as a growing international concern.
Both sides emphasised the need for coordinated global efforts to combat financial crimes and ensure international security.
On terrorism, the minister said while some level of extremism may exist, it has not escalated into organised terrorism in Bangladesh. He noted that specialised units, including the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, are actively working to address such threats.
Highlighting economic issues, Salahuddin Ahmed said reforms in the financial sector are essential for ensuring stability. The ambassador agreed, noting that economic stability is a key driver of national development.
The minister also expressed interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in recovering laundered funds and advancing reform initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Rebecca Khan, joint secretary (Political-1), Ministry of Home Affairs, and Alberto Giovanetti, counsellor at the Swiss Embassy.
In a separate meeting later, the home minister also met Kristian Hölge, regional director for South Asia of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).