Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday told Jatiya Sangsad that 464 murder cases and 666 rape cases had been filed across Bangladesh since the current government assumed office on February 17.
Responding to a question from opposition lawmaker Abul Hasnat, the minister said law enforcement agencies had arrested 604 suspects in connection with murder cases and 530 suspects in rape cases.
Among them, 11 accused in murder cases and 71 in rape cases had been released on bail.
The minister said that investigations into serious crimes, such as murder and rape, were being conducted with the highest priority to ensure that those responsible received strict punishment.
He said that authorities were working to collect proper evidence and submit charge-sheets as quickly as possible.
In response to another question from lawmaker Md Mujibur Rahman, the home minister described land grabbing, extortion and other illegal activities as serious crimes that harm both society and the State.
He alleged that during the previous Awami League government’s more than 15 years in power, groups aligned with it were involved in land grabbing, control of water bodies and sand quarries, extortion, tender manipulation and other unlawful activities, which caused widespread public suffering.
The minister said that the current government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against such crimes.
As a result, many individuals involved in land grabbing, extortion and illegal activities had been arrested and brought under the law, leading to a noticeable decline in these offences.
Replying to a question from lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury, the minister said that the investigation report of the commission on enforced disappearances had been preserved at the National Human Rights Commission.
Home minister said that legal and other forms of assistance were being provided to missing persons and affected families.
Answering a question from lawmaker Jahandar Ali Mia, the minister said that Bangladesh Police currently had 218,554 approved posts. Of these, 207,745 are police positions, 8,047 are non-police posts, and 2,762 are outsourced non-police positions.
He also said that approximately 14,500 new posts were being created, including 500 assistant superintendents of police, 4,000 sub-inspectors (unarmed), and 10,000 constables.
Recruitment has already begun to fill 2,703 vacant constable posts, and 2,000 assistant sub-inspectors would be recruited directly, the minister said.
In response to a question from BNP lawmaker Mohammad Shamim Qaiser, the home minister said that the government was firmly committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety. Under its directives, Bangladesh Police had undertaken various plans and measures, which he said, had helped to keep the overall law and order situation under control.
Under its directives, Bangladesh Police has undertaken various plans and measures, which he said have helped keep the overall law and order situation under control.
