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Stay alert, create command centre to monitor law and order

FE REPORT | February 04, 2025 00:00:00


Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus takes serious note of unrest and asks the law-enforcing agencies to create a command centre to intensively monitor law-and-order situation across the country.

The head of post-uprising government gave the instructions while reviewing the law-and-order situation at a high-level meeting with security chiefs at the State Guesthouse Jamuna, said a spokesperson for the CA, in the wake of a wave of agitations.

Present at the meeting were Home Adviser Lieutenant- General (retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, Home Secretary Nasimul Gani and chiefs of police, BGB, RAB, DMP, Coast Guard and Special Branch.

The Chief Adviser said the security agencies must make maximum use of the latest communications tools to make sure they can quickly intervene in a situation.

"We have to set up a command centre or a command headquarters which will coordinate among all the police and security agencies," he told senior security officials.

He said the new command structure would "skillfully and intensively" communicate among all agencies, police stations across the country and all law-enforcing authorities.

On a note of alert to possible sabotage by forces of the deposed regime, he ordered the security chiefs to stay vigilant against any attempt to disrupt law and order in Bangladesh.

"We have to be as alert as if we were in a warlike situation. This year is a very critical year for the country. We must not allow anyone to create chaos and anarchy," he told the security chiefs.

The Chief Adviser categorically said the cronies of the ousted autocrat, Sheikh Hasina, were spending "huge sums of money in an attempt to foment anarchy and spread disinformation".

"We must stay vigilant. Everyone should fight against this disinformation menace."

He ordered the security chiefs to protect the human rights of every citizen and take special measures to thwart any attack on the religious or ethnic minorities.

"Our global image will be tarnished if we can't protect our religious minorities. We will also have to be very transparent in this regard," he said.

The Chief Adviser also ordered the police to launch a crackdown on extortionists in an effort to keep prices of food and essential commodities stable during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Inspector-General of Police Baharul Alam said police set up 10 teams to monitor the murder cases filed over the atrocities and killings by Hasina's forces during July and August.

The Chief Adviser directed the police to fast-track these cases and to make sure that no innocent people are harassed by these cases.

Chief of Police Baharul Alam said Bangladesh has moved a request to the Interpol in an effort to issue a Red Notice on Sheikh Hasina who fled to India during the mass uprising. "We've made a request. We hope we will get some response soon," said.

DMM commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjad Ali said mugging and snatching incidents in the capital declined after police stepped up security. "Our efforts will continue," he told the meet.

The Chief Adviser also directed police across the country to introduce online filing of cases.

Currently, an FIR can only be filed after a visit to the nearest police station. The procedure is cumbersome and leaves opportunities for abuse.

Professor Yunus said police should set up a dedicated call number -- like 999 -- to enable complainants to file a First Information Report from any part of the country.

"This will reduce the hassles our people face when they file a case," he said about the old practices as his regime has launched reforms for an aspired new order, directing the national police chief, Baharul Alam, to launch a new phone number for online FIR filing as early as possible.

The Chief Adviser also directed the police chief to set up a dedicated call centre to answer queries on online filing of cases.

"People who would struggle to file a case online can easily take help from the call centre," he said.

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