Gambling and drug abuse are among the major factors behind many crimes in the country, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Wednesday.
He said arresting and punishing offenders after crimes are committed alone would not be enough to curb crime.
“Authorities must identify why crimes are taking place and address their root causes,” he said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking the 43rd founding anniversary of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) in Segunbagicha in the afternoon.
He said many serious crimes have links to drug addiction and gambling.
“Crime is a symptom. The real problem lies elsewhere,” Salahuddin said, adding that identifying and addressing the underlying causes could help reduce crime.
He said curbing the spread of gambling and drugs could also help reduce other crimes associated with them.
Cybersecurity units planned
The minister said the nature of crime is changing rapidly, with digital and cyberspace-related offences increasing.
He said forensic examination of electronic devices and data analysis have become increasingly important in detecting and investigating such crimes.
The government is planning to establish modern cybersecurity units and laboratories at Police Headquarters, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and divisional levels, he said.
Similar units are planned at the district level, while responsible officers will be assigned at police stations and upazila levels, he added.
Salahuddin said the government was also planning to establish a full-fledged institutional cybersecurity unit headed by an additional inspector general of police.
He had disclosed the plan at a meeting of the governing board of the Police Staff College on 15 September.
Laws need to keep pace with new crimes
Salahuddin said laws must also be updated as the nature of crime changes. “Old laws cannot always deal with new types of crime,” he said.
Referring to the spread of online gambling, he said new laws should be enacted and existing ones amended to meet changing needs.
He said weaknesses in existing laws could allow accused persons to obtain bail or be released soon after arrest.
“Necessary legal reforms must be carried out based on the nature of crimes and the needs of society,” he said.
Crime reporters face risks
The minister said crime reporting is different from many other areas of journalism and often involves investigative work, which can expose journalists to risks.
He said the government would explore whether financial assistance could be provided to crime reporters injured or otherwise affected while carrying out their professional duties, either directly or through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
As the nature of crime changes, journalists also need to develop their skills in technology and emerging forms of crime, he said.
Salahuddin stressed greater cooperation between crime reporters, law enforcement agencies and relevant government bodies.
He also said the government would consider issuing certificates to crime reporters involved in high-risk reporting and investigative journalism through the Home Ministry or police authorities.
The minister said the media has an important role in raising social awareness alongside law enforcement efforts.
He urged journalists to maintain professional standards and remain accountable to society and the state.
DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Assistant (Political) Md Rashed Khan, Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust Managing Director Bashir Jamal, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and Central Publicity and Media Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Jamaat’s Dhaka South City unit Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud and Dhaka Union of Journalists President Shahidul Islam also spoke at the event.
CRAB President Mirza Mehdi Tamal chaired the programme, while its General Secretary MM Badshah moderated it.
