The government has no plans at present to launch an operation similar to Operation Clean Heart, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said, adding that law enforcement agencies are making every effort to combat crime.
“Police occasionally come under attack while combating crime. This is nothing new,” he said in response to questions from journalists at the inauguration of the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Cyber Police Centre and Digital Forensic Lab in Dampara, Chattogram, at 1pm on Wednesday.
The home minister said law enforcement agencies would continue their all-out efforts to curb criminal activities.
He added that legal action would be taken against anyone who provides shelter or assistance to suspects during arrest.
Responding to a question at the event, Salahuddin Ahmed reiterated that the government had no plans to launch an operation similar to Operation Clean Heart.
Earlier, the minister formally inaugurated the Cyber Police Centre and an international-standard Digital Forensic Lab at the CID office at Dampara Police Lines in Chattogram.
The building and laboratory were constructed under the project titled “Safer Cyberspace for Digital Bangladesh: Enhancing National and Regional Digital Investigation Capability of Bangladesh Police”, with joint assistance from the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Speaking at the ceremony, the home minister said the nature of crime had changed with the use of cyberspace in the modern world. He said digital forensic laboratories were indispensable for preventing modern crimes, including online scams and stock market manipulation.
He said digital forensic laboratories would soon be established at the headquarters of all eight administrative divisions. The capacity would subsequently be expanded from the central level to district and upazila levels.
The minister added that steps were underway to enhance the CID’s laboratory facilities and technological capabilities to ensure speedy justice through the judicial system.
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-joon attended the inauguration ceremony as the guest of honour, while Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir spoke as a special guest.
Among others present were Additional Inspector General of Police (Development) at Police Headquarters Sardar Nurul Amin; KOICA Bangladesh Country Director Jihoon Kim; Chattogram-10 MP Saeed Al Noman; Additional Deputy Inspector General of the Chattogram Range Nazmul Haque; and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali, along with senior military and civilian officials.
