The government has planned to update the list of criminals countrywide and those involved in the political violence before the January 5 election will also be included in the list.
“We will make the list on the basis of specific allegations and the criminals will be brought to book with a view to protecting the lives and properties of people,” state minister for home Asaduzzaman Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday held a meeting at the home ministry which was attended by the state minister for home, senior secretary of the home ministry CQK Mustaq Ahmed, senior officials and heads of different agencies under the home ministry. The home ministry at the meeting did a presentation of its activities while chiefs of different agencies spoke of their respective issues.
Speaking to reporters at his office following the meeting, Asaduzzaman Khan, quoting the premier, said police had been ordered to update the list of criminals.
Preferring anonymity, a senior official who attended the meeting said the meeting focused on discussion on political violence happening before the January 5 polls when BNP and Jamaat attempted to foil election, made arson attacks, vandalised vehicles and removed rail tracks in different places.
The country incurred heavy loss because of the violence as the communication ministry had to suffer a loss of Tk159 crore while many people were killed in arson attacks, the official said.
The prime minister asked police to take account of political violence while updating the list of criminals, he quoted the premier as saying.
According to the home ministry, there is a list of criminals operating across the country but the exact number could not be known.
Talking to this correspondent at his room, additional secretary of the home ministry Kamal Ahmed said: “Updating the list of criminals is a daily task. The number goes up and down over time which is why mentioning a precise figure is difficult.”
The government would set up more speedy trial tribunals to deal with cases still pending, he said.
“We will send proposals to the law ministry to set up more speedy trial tribunals to reduce the number of cases that haven’t been disposed of yet,” another additional secretary Shawkat Mostafa told the Dhaka Tribune.
Kamal Ahmed said the list would be updated to include names of real criminals only so that the common people were not intimidated and their properties were protected.
Officials said drug trafficking and black market operations could not be checked due to lack of brick road along the border.
Consequently, illegal drugs are entering the country which is taking a toll on youngsters, they said.
Asaduzzaman said a decision had been taken to build metallic road to heighten patrol of the Border Guard Bangladesh and narcotics traders would be nabbed.
The state minister said cybercrimes could not be checked fully at present due to limitation of the law enforcement agencies.
“The issue was discussed at the meeting. Militants use the Internet to carry out their activities,” he added.
Inspector-General of police Hasan Mahmud Khandaker said prison vans with modern facilities were required for transporting prisoners while chief of the Narcotics Department said shortage of manpower was affecting their activities.
The premier assured members of the law enforcement agencies of more logistic support and housing facilities.
Hasina in her written speech warned that negligence of officials would not be tolerated. She said remuneration of government officials came from the money people pay in taxes.
That is why it is the responsibility of the government to serve the people, she said.
Describing various activities of the home ministry, Hasina said the ministry and the agencies under it would maintain the law and order at any cost.
