Drives to arrest terrorists and extortionists to be launched soon -home minister

Minister

MD Babul Bangladesh representive

Bangladesh Dhaka (March 04, 2026): Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that a drive will be launched across the country to arrest terrorists and extortionists.

The minister made this statement while briefing reporters after a view-exchange meeting with various levels of DMP officials at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters in Ramna, the capital, this afternoon.

The minister said that two instructions were given in today’s view-exchange meeting. One of them is that we will prepare a list of extortionists and start a drive across the country, especially from Dhaka. Therefore, it has been ordered to prepare a list of extortionists and bring them under the law accordingly. Secondly, it has been ordered to prepare a transparent list of those who are armed terrorists, notorious criminals, and those who are creating chaos in the society and take action accordingly.

The minister further said that the main priority of the current government is to control the law and order situation and through this to provide relief to the public and establish peace in the country. He said that we want to establish the rule of law in the country. And in this regard, the role of the police is paramount. He further said that since Bangladesh was under a fascist government system in the past, like all other institutions, this institution of the police was also damaged. From that place, it has gradually reached its current stage. The minister said that people should truly consider the police as friends of the people – we are directing the police force towards that goal. Necessary instructions have been given in today’s exchange of views.

Salahuddin Ahmed said that the police will not operate under the autocratic orders of any person or any patriarchal system will not operate here, the police will operate according to the law. The minister said that senior officials have been instructed to operate the police force with accountability and responsibility. They have made a determination and commitment in that regard today. He said, I have reminded the police force of the promises made by the current government to the people. I hope they will make the utmost sacrifice for the people.

In response to a question from journalists, the minister said that the police force has been instructed to work by maintaining the ‘chain of command’. He said, an OC will not be able to communicate directly with the minister. But the minister will communicate with any level of employee if he wants. But a lower-ranking employee will not be able to communicate with a higher-ranking official by breaking the ‘chain of command’.

In response to journalists’ questions about traffic congestion in Dhaka, the minister said, we have instructed the DMP Commissioner to form a cell or committee in this regard. He will sit with the DMP’s traffic department and prepare a list of recommendations to control traffic congestion and give me a report. He said, the number of battery-powered rickshaws on Dhaka’s roads has increased significantly. They are plying on the main and VIP roads of Dhaka where battery-powered rickshaws are not supposed to be. We are taking steps on how to control this. We will control battery-powered rickshaws on the road from Uttara Airport Road to the Secretariat on an experimental basis. This will be done on other main and VIP roads in phases.

IGP Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, DMP Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar and others were present at the briefing.