Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said criminals’ attempt to build a “state within a state” in Jungle Salimpur of Chattogram has been crushed through joint operations.
He told reporters on Tuesday morning that a large cache of weapons was seized and several suspects arrested.
Authorities are now planning to establish an integrated “security and administrative hub” at the site, including a Police Academy, RAB Academy, Police Sports Complex and a prison.
Such arrogance by criminals will be suppressed with a firm hand, and that the government’s measures will soon be visible to the public, he said after inspecting the ‘National Operation Monitoring Centre’ at Police Headquarters in Dhaka.
He also said, the government will maintain a “zero tolerance” policy against irregularities, terrorism, drugs and extortion to establish rule of law and ensure public safety.
Law enforcement agencies are fully prepared and active to restore peace and order after 17 years of mismanagement and criminalisation under previous governments.
While observing monitoring activities at Police Headquarters, Salahuddin gave necessary instructions to officers on duty. He said that although the Central Monitoring Cell at Police Headquarters is always active, ahead of Eid‑ul‑Adha it has been specially strengthened for seven days before and seven days after the festival.
With sufficient manpower deployed, all highways, cattle markets, and expressways including the Jamuna and Padma bridges have been brought under round‑the‑clock surveillance.
He added that in highway sections without CCTV cameras, police officers are being equipped with body‑worn cameras to ensure accountability.
Salahuddin noted that compared to previous years, the number of road accidents has been much lower this time. “The few accidents that did occur were mainly due to carelessness and individual negligence,” he said.
Citing Monday’s accident in Naogaon, where passengers boarded a truck carrying iron rods, he said, “In an attempt to save fare, passengers took a risky ride, lost balance and caused the accident, which is very unfortunate.”
He urged citizens to be more cautious and responsible in their travel. The government is very strict to ensure that no illegal cattle markets can operate outside approved ones, he added.
Recently, an unauthorised market under the metro rail line in Mirpur was shut down immediately. In addition, to prevent the use of counterfeit currency in cattle markets, commercial banks and police, in coordination with Bangladesh Bank, have installed sufficient counterfeit note detection machines.
Answering journalists’ questions about long waits at the Jamuna Bridge toll plaza for northbound passengers, the minister said, “This queue is caused by manual toll collection. For a permanent solution, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges will be advised to introduce digital automation (such as automatic card‑based toll deduction in vehicles). Special incentives are also being considered to encourage users.”
On the incident in Savar where drug dealers used CCTV cameras and drones and attacked journalists, the minister said three police members have already been closed. Strict legal action will be taken against those involved within 24 hours.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, and other senior police officials were present at the press briefing.
