Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government is working on improving laws, strengthening border protection, and taking stronger action against crime inside the country, report agencies.
"A new law is being drafted to replace the antiquated 1867 Gambling Act, with plans to present it in the upcoming parliamentary session," he said.
Briefing the journalists at the home ministry at the Secretariat in the capital on Tuesday, he said this legislation will specifically target online gambling, betting, and associated money laundering.
The minister described it as 'transnational crimes' saying that the current law fails to address adequately.
Responding to reports of unauthorised circuses and gambling at local festivals, the minister
emphasised that no illegal activities will be tolerated.
He warned that the government would investigate any instances where local administrations may have permitted such activities in violation of standing orders.
Addressing concerns regarding border security, he said killings of individuals, who are involved in crime or illegal intrusion, by any border force within its own territory cannot be labelled as 'border killing.'
"If any foreign force kills someone by entering our border or at the zero line, then it can be called border killing. But if someone is involved in any sort of crimes within our borders and their borders or if someone commits illegal trespassing, then they (border forces) will address the issue as per their own local laws. In such cases, it should not be called border killing," he said.
He said all border-related issues and possible solutions will be discussed at the Director General-level meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF), beginning in New Delhi on June 8.
Salahuddin described the meeting as a routine annual exercise held alternately in both countries.
Responding to another question about reports that large numbers of people are being gathered at the border in West Bengal after being labelled Bangladeshis, he said the members of BGB have been kept on alert.
"We are against any form of illegal push-in or push-back. However, if any Bangladeshi citizen has gone to that country for any reason and their identity is verified through national identity card, and if the central government sends a verified list to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then repatriation will be carried out following legal procedures," the home minister said.
No such verified list has been received so far, he said, adding that if any such cases existed earlier, they will also be addressed legally.
The minister reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorists, specifically mentioning ongoing efforts to eliminate hideouts in Jungle Salimpur.
While security operations are a priority, the government pledged that residents evicted for state
projects would be rehabilitated.
Speaking about crime in the capital, he said the government is giving special attention to Mohammadpur to tackle its long-standing challenges, including criminal activities, high population density, and widespread drug abuse.
The minister noted that drug control laws are also being reformed to ensure criminals cannot easily secure release after arrest.
The briefing also touched upon high-profile judicial matters, specifically the case involving child deaths at Ad-din Hospital.
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