Dhaka: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday warned that the country’s top terrorists and extortionists will soon face the full force of the law. ‘Those involved in the recent shooting incident in Chattogram have already been identified and that various intelligence agencies are working on the matter,’ he said while talking to reporters after a views-exchange meeting with Fire Service and Civil Defence officials at the Secretariat in the afternoon.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister referred to an incident where a terrorist group had demanded extortion from a prominent businessman in Chattogram two months ago. Following the threat, the Chattogram Police Commissioner provided security and police guarded the businessman’s residence. ‘Perhaps the group did not get any benefit at that time. Two months later, they repeated the attempt and opened fire using heavy weapons,’ Salahuddin said.
Regarding the Security Ordinance issued at the end of the interim government, the minister stated it was based on a clause of the July National Charter pledge, which had been agreed upon by all political parties that signed the charter. ‘Those who led and participated in the July uprising must be given legal and constitutional protection. We are committed to these pledges and will take decisions in light of them,’ Salahuddin said.
In response to a question about how long members of the Bangladesh Army would remain deployed in the field, the home minister mentioned that a decision would be taken after high-level discussions. ‘The army itself does not want to remain in the field for long, as it affects their training and other activities. We need to assess how much the law and order situation has improved after the government assumed office,’ Salahuddin said. ‘However, at this moment I cannot specify when the army will be withdrawn. But it will have to be withdrawn at some point,’ he added.
On the issue of changing the name and uniform of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) during the interim government, the minister acknowledged public demand regarding the force and noted that the July National Charter has recommended taking certain decisions about it. ‘This is a specialised force. The question is whether we need such a force – and the answer is yes. We have to decide on its model, jurisdiction, accountability and transparency to ensure the best possible service,’ he said.