Bangladesh鈥檚 interim government home affairs adviser Lt Gen, retd, Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that police personnel who have failed to rejoin their duties would be considered criminals and brought to book.
He made the remark on Tuesday during a press briefing following a meeting of the law and order committee at the home ministry in Dhaka.
Speaking to journalists, the adviser clarified, 鈥楾hose who have not yet rejoined their positions will not be considered as part of the police force. Instead, they will be regarded as criminals. We have already made the decision to recruit new personnel for Ansar, police, and BGB units.鈥�
The adviser also confirmed that a notification for the recruitment of sub-inspectors is expected within the next few days.
On the topic of police reforms, which began on October 1, the adviser clarified that the work is being handled by a separate committee.
鈥楾he committee will submit their report, based on which the necessary reforms will be implemented,鈥� he explained.
At the same briefing, the home adviser highlighted that preparations were under way to ensure that this year鈥檚 Durga Puja was celebrated safely.
鈥榃e have taken every possible step to make sure the Puja is celebrated without any disruptions. We are also working on improving the overall law and order situation, and we expect further improvements in the coming days,鈥� he said.
The meeting also covered a wide range of issues, including security at industrial zones like Ashulia, weapons recovery operations, and efforts to combat the drug trade. The adviser noted that special attention is being given to safeguarding garment factories and religious shrines across the country.
When asked about the possibility of extending the Durga Puja holiday to three days, he said, 鈥楾his matter does not fall within my purview, and I have never advocated for it.鈥�
Addressing the ongoing issues in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Lt Gen Jahangir noted that despite the peace accord, some groups like the UPDF did not surrender their weapons, unlike the JSS. He acknowledged internal conflicts between these groups and emphasised the need for measures to ensure peaceful coexistence in the region.
The adviser also highlighted the importance of preventing the influx of weapons and external training into the area, stating that efforts were being made to address these concerns.