‘Stay alert as if we’re in a war-like situation’

"Our global image will be badly damaged if we can't protect our religious minorities. We will have to be very transparent in this regard."

— Prof Muhammad Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has directed the law enforcement agencies to stay on high alert and treat the current situation as a war-like situation.

"We have to be as alert as if we were in a war-like situation. This year is a very critical year for the country. We must not allow anyone to create chaos and anarchy," he said during a review of the country's law and order at a high-level meeting with chiefs of different law enforcement agencies at state guesthouse Jamuna yesterday.

According to the statement of the CA's press wing, Prof Yunus instructed  the law enforcers to establish a central command centre for close monitoring of law and order.

The meeting was attended by Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the chief adviser Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the home ministry Nasimul Gani, and the chiefs of police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Coast Guard, and Special Branch.

Prof Yunus stressed the need for the agencies to utilise the latest communication technologies for rapid intervention in crisis situations, said the statement.

"We have to set up a command centre or a command headquarters, which will coordinate among all the police and security agencies," he told the senior officials.

He said the new command structure would "skillfully and intensively" communicate among all agencies, police stations across the country, and all law enforcement authorities.

Yunus ordered the agency chiefs to stay vigilant against any attempt to disrupt the law and order situation.

He alleged that cronies of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina were spending vast sums of money to incite unrest and spread misinformation. "We must stay vigilant. Everyone must fight against this disinformation menace."

He further directed the  agencies to ensure the protection of human rights and take special measures to prevent attacks on religious and ethnic minorities.

"Our global image will be badly damaged if we can't protect our religious minorities. We will also have to be very transparent in this regard."

The chief adviser also ordered police to launch a crackdown on extortionists in an effort to keep the prices of food and other essentials stable during Ramadan.

At the meeting, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam said police have formed 10 teams to monitor the murder cases filed over the atrocities and killings during July and August last year, read the statement.

Yunus  directed police to fast-track these cases and make sure that no innocent people are harassed because of these cases.

He also asked police to introduce an online system for filing cases, according to the CA's press wing statement.

Under the existing system, a first information report can only be filed in person with a police station. The procedure is cumbersome and leaves opportunities for abuse.

"Police should introduce a dedicated emergency number, like 999, to enable complainants to file an FIR from any part of the country," he said, instructing the IGP to implement the service as soon as possible.

The chief adviser also ordered the establishment of a call centre to assist those struggling to file cases online. "People who face difficulties in filing cases online should be able to receive help from the call centre.

According to the statement, IGP Baharul said Bangladesh has requested Interpol to issue a red notice on Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India during the mass uprising. "We've made a request. We hope we will get some response soon."

DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali said the incidents of mugging and snatching in the capital have declined after police stepped up security. "Our efforts will continue."

Later in the evening, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam said they were not 100 percent satisfied with law and order, but efforts were underway to improve it.

He was talking to reporters after a meeting on security measures on the occasion of Language Martyr's Day and International Mother Language Day at the Secretariat.

The law and order situation has improved significantly, he said while responding to a reporter's query.

The home adviser said, "There is still room for further improvement. We are not 100 percent satisfied. That is why we are constantly working to improve the law and order situation."