Dhaka: Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today announced that the police will no longer be equipped with lethal or heavy weapons. “Police will no longer have lethal weapons,” the adviser stated following a visit to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) offices.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser clarified what is meant by deadly weapons, explaining, “By deadly weapons, I mean that there will be no large weapons (in the hands of police). Rifles will still be there.” He further elaborated that even smaller weapons like knives can be deadly, emphasizing that people can be harmed with them as well.
The Home Adviser highlighted the distinct roles of different police units, stating that APBn and other police units are designed for specific roles. “If we ever have to fight (a war), they (APBn) will fight alongside the army. Others will also fight, but APBn will be at the front. That’s why their weapons are different from other units,” he remarked, adding that units like naval police and industrial police require specialized equipment.
Reflecting on the law and order situation over the past ten months, the adviser noted a significant improvement. “This time during Eid, you could not report anything bad. This shows that law and order has improved a lot,” he said, acknowledging minor incidents of thefts and robberies but no major problems.
Addressing a recent incident where a person in a RAB-like uniform allegedly committed a robbery in Uttara, Jahangir Alam assured that individuals involved in such acts, even if they impersonate RAB or police, will not escape justice. “Many times, many people wear RAB and police uniforms and commit many misdeeds; they won’t get away with it either,” he asserted.
In response to a query regarding measures to alleviate traffic congestion, the Home Affairs Adviser mentioned ongoing efforts to mitigate the issue. He pointed out the disparity in road coverage, stating, “Bangladesh has only seven percent road coverage while other countries have 25 percent.”
The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, among other officials.