United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday directed police force to use own intelligence information to bring “fascist’s associates” to justice and announced rewards for those who play a role in their arrests. “Those who can bring the associates of fascism and Awami forces under the law will be rewarded,” he said while addressing a medal-giving ceremony marking Police Week-2026 at Rajarbagh police lines in the capital. The minister said some of such people have been arrested recently including two “strong associates of fascism” in the previous week and another on Friday. “They had been hiding here all this time. Where was our intelligence support?” he asked, urging police to make effective use of their own intelligence capabilities. He also said legal action would be taken against those attempting to create instability in the country. Citing the United Nations figures the minister said, around 1,400 people were killed in the country in one month during the movement. He also referred to figures relating to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and deaths in custody over the past 17 years. He questioned whether people would ever want those responsible for such killings and the politicisation of state institutions to return to politics. The minister said those who have not expressed regret, remorse or sought forgiveness after the killings are now speaking from outside Bangladesh. On bringing back convicted fugitives including Sheikh Hasina, the home minister said Bangladesh has formally requested the neighbouring country to return them under the extradition treaty. “We have officially requested the neighbouring country, as per the extradition treaty, to return the convicted fugitives including Sheikh Hasina,” he said. He added that if the individuals concerned voluntarily return to Bangladesh and face the law, the legal process would take its own course. At the ceremony, the home minister presented BPM and PPM medals to 98 police members. Home Ministry Senior Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir and senior police officials attended the programme.