Home minister orders swift arrests of criminals, extortionists and drug dealers
Salahuddin Ahmed warns law enforcers of strict action.
Highlights
- Law enforcers warned of strict action
- Extortion gang targeted prominent medical professionals
- Police members assisting criminals face action
- Ansar deployment planned at 500 hospitals
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has ordered the swift arrest of identified criminals, extortionists and drug dealers across the country, including the Dhaka metropolitan area.
He warned that strict action would be taken against members of law enforcement agencies who fail to arrest the criminals.
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The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after visiting Professor Dr Mohammad Asad-ur Rahman, who sustained injuries in an attack in Shantinagar, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital today (22 August).
"Identified extortionists, criminals and drug dealers in Dhaka metropolitan and other metropolitan areas must be brought to justice as soon as possible. Those who fail in this regard will face strict action under a 'zero tolerance' policy," he said.
The minister said a gang of extortionists attacked Professor Asad-ur Rahman after he left his chamber in Shantinagar on 17 August.
Four of the seven members of the gang have been arrested within 48 hours of the incident through law enforcement efforts, he said.
One of the four was arrested from the scene, another from Lakshmipur, while the other two were arrested from the Dania and Satarakul areas of Jatrabari, according to the minister.
He praised police and Detective Branch (DB) members for identifying and arresting the suspects within a short time.
Salahuddin said preliminary interrogation revealed that the alleged mastermind had returned to Bangladesh after suffering losses in the hundi business while abroad and subsequently formed a criminal gang.
The gang allegedly targeted major hospitals, prominent doctors, engineers and wealthy professionals, first intimidating them and sending threatening messages before carrying out physical attacks to extort large sums of money.
"No such criminal activities by extortionists will be tolerated. Operations will continue until extortion is completely eliminated," the minister said.
The minister said action would also be taken against police members found to be involved in or assisting extortionists.
"Not only are lists of extortionists and criminals being prepared, lists of police members involved in or assisting such extortion are also being prepared," he said.
He said criminals and their patrons would be brought to justice regardless of how influential they were.
The government is deploying 10 Ansar members at each of 500 hospitals across the country to ensure the security of doctors and healthcare workers, the minister said.
He advised doctors who feel unsafe at their private chambers or clinics to inform police.
Asked about issuing firearm licences to doctors for personal security, Salahuddin said any citizen can apply for a shotgun or pistol licence under existing laws, subject to fulfilling the relevant conditions.
"If a doctor feels a firearm is necessary for personal security and applies for one, the application will be considered seriously under the existing government rules," he said.
Later, the home minister visited Anwar Khan Modern Hospital in Dhanmondi to meet Dr AKM Aminul Haque, another doctor who had allegedly been threatened by the same extortion gang.
