Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed Vows Crackdown on Mob Violence as Border Security Enhances with New Drone Technology

Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed declared on Tuesday that the government will take a firm stand against the growing culture of mob violence in Bangladesh. Speaking to reporters in Sylhet, the minister emphasized that existing laws are sufficient to prosecute those who take the law into their own hands, and no new legislation is required to address the issue.

The minister’s comments came following the inauguration of the Border School of Surveillance and Drone Warfare (SSSDW), organized by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Highlighting the integration of modern technology in border security, Ahmed stated that digital surveillance, night vision equipment, and thermal drones will be deployed to monitor remote areas where manual patrols are challenging. These measures are designed to curb smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal infiltration.

Ahmed further revealed that Bangladesh is currently in the process of assembling and manufacturing drones locally. He expressed an ambition to develop this initiative into a robust defense industry. Under the current plans, border outposts, regional headquarters, and BGB central offices will be linked to live feeds, allowing for real-time monitoring of border activities and enhanced emergency response capabilities during natural disasters.

Regarding the protracted legal processes for drug-related offenses, the minister acknowledged that an overwhelming caseload has created significant delays. He noted that there are approximately 80,000 pending drug cases in Dhaka, 30,000 in Chattogram, and 20,000 in Cox’s Bazar. He attributed the backlog to a shortage of investigative personnel and judicial resources.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police launches drive to relocate buses from Mohakhali terminal to Purbachal depot to ease congestion

Read Article

To address these challenges, the government has moved to strengthen the Department of Narcotics Control through new legislation. The updated legal framework mandates the construction of holding cells and evidence storage facilities in every district. Furthermore, the law now provides for the formation of a specialized dog squad and authorizes authorities to prosecute crimes involving the sale of narcotics in cyberspace.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, along with Member of Parliament M A Malik, BGB Sylhet Sector Commander Colonel Mohammad Salauddin, and senior law enforcement officials, including Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sarwar Murshed Shamim and Superintendent of Police Chowdhury Md. Jaber Sadeq.