‘Legal gaps let criminals walk free’

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said criminals often return to the streets soon after arrest because of weaknesses in existing laws, adding that the government is working to introduce modern laws to address the problem.

Speaking at an emergency press conference at the Secretariat, the minister said the crime situation in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area cannot be resolved overnight, as drug abuse and gambling networks have deep influence there.

“The problem in Mohammadpur is not something that can be solved overnight. Drug and gambling influences are high there,” he said.

The home minister said law enforcers arrest offenders, but legal limitations make it difficult to keep them in jail for long periods.

“Due to weaknesses in the law, criminals cannot be kept in jail for long after arrest. These problems will be addressed through modern laws,” he said.

Asked about the trial in the murder case of child Ramisa, Salahuddin declined to comment in detail, saying the matter is now before the court.

“I do not want to say anything about it, as it is a matter of the court. However, efforts are continuing so that the trial can be completed within a short time,” he said.

The minister also spoke about the deaths of newborns at Ad-Din Hospital, saying there were fears that the deaths may have been caused by respiratory distress linked to AC gas-related issues.

He said police were taking all necessary measures and the investigation was ongoing. The Health Ministry is also looking into the incident, he added.

On traffic congestion, the home minister said the situation in Dhaka and other parts of the country had improved to some extent. He said the use of AI technology in Dhaka had shown significant success.
According to him, the government plans to introduce mechanical automation at road points in other cities as well.

He expressed hope that traffic congestion would decrease further within the next one to two months.
The minister also said Border Guard Bangladesh remains on alert to prevent pushback attempts along the border.

“The government is against any kind of pushback,” he said.
However, he added that if any Bangladeshi citizen is found staying illegally in another country, the government will deal with the matter through official channels.