Bangladesh Trial Report

The government has no plan to launch an ‘Operation Clean Heart’-style drive to control the law and order situation at this moment, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after inaugurating the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Cyber Police Centre at Dampara Police Lines in Chattogram on Wednesday (October 14).

“We have no plan for an operation like Operation Clean Heart. Law enforcement agencies are making every effort to suppress criminal activities,” the home minister said.

Responding to a question about the law and order situation, he said the government has a responsibility to address the overall situation in the country. However, the government does not view it as a challenge. He added that the government would take the necessary measures to fulfil its responsibilities.

Digital forensic labs planned for all eight divisions

The home minister said the nature of crime has changed, with criminals using the digital world and cyberspace to commit various offences, including fraud and stock market manipulation. Modern digital forensic laboratories are essential to prevent and investigate such crimes, he said.

“Therefore, the government has taken an initiative to establish digital forensic laboratories at the headquarters of all eight administrative divisions as soon as possible,” he added.

Salahuddin Ahmed said the Republic of Korea and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) had supported the establishment of the CID’s cyber office and digital forensic laboratory in Chattogram. He thanked the Korean government, the country’s ambassador to Bangladesh and the visiting team members for their assistance.

He said the government had been planning to establish a Police Cyber Unit from the outset. The unit formally began operations on October 1 under the leadership of an additional inspector general of police.

The newly inaugurated digital forensic laboratory will operate under the leadership of the CID, he said. However, interdepartmental cooperation among the relevant units will continue in digital forensic analysis and examinations.

The minister said the government would also take initiatives to expand digital analysis facilities at the central, divisional, district and upazila levels. Plans include establishing laboratory facilities at the divisional and district levels.

He added that the government had sought international assistance for the initiative, including support from the South Korean government.

The home minister noted that the CID had been operating chemical laboratories since its establishment. These laboratories play an important role in various examinations, including those required for viscera reports. He said expanding the laboratories had become necessary to meet current needs.

He stressed that proper analysis, evidence collection and certification were essential to expedite judicial proceedings and ensure justice.

“As the nature of crime changes, law enforcement agencies must also develop modern, technology-driven capabilities,” he said.

The government has taken initiatives to equip law enforcement agencies with the necessary laboratory facilities, logistics and modern equipment to prevent and combat crimes committed in the digital world, he added.

Chattogram-10 lawmaker Saeed Al Noman, South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-jun, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir, CID Additional Inspector General Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain and officials from different levels of the police department were present at the event. /SMA/