Sedition charges for police aiding ‘fascists’

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has warned that police personnel found secretly assisting what he described as “fascist forces” could face criminal action, including sedition charges.

He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing the medal-giving ceremony of Police Week 2026 at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh.

The home minister said the government had information that some police personnel were secretly sharing information with or otherwise assisting “fascist forces”. He also alleged that some officers were neglecting their duties at the field level.

He said officers were being given opportunities to correct themselves, but those found secretly collecting and passing information to fugitive “fascist” elements would face legal action if necessary.

Salahuddin said the public wanted a police force that was friendly and responsive rather than one that behaved like “kings”.

He urged senior police officers to avoid conduct that could appear undemocratic or abnormal to the public and instructed them not to allow such behaviour among their subordinates.

The minister also warned that if serving officers failed to meet public expectations, the government could undertake large-scale recruitment through short-term training courses to strengthen the force.

Salahuddin also announced plans to establish a new police unit, referred to as the Special Response Unit (SRU), along with a separate cyber security unit.

He said the existing Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit would be restructured under the new arrangement to strengthen efforts against militancy.

A post for an Additional Inspector General of Police would also be created at Police Headquarters for the new structure if such a post did not already exist, he said.

According to the minister, the new unit would have branches at metropolitan, divisional and district levels. Modern cyber-security equipment would be provided at police stations and district-level offices, while larger forensic laboratories and other specialised facilities would be established at headquarters and divisional levels.

Salahuddin also warned of attempts by what he called “mafia forces” to undermine Bangladesh’s democratic environment, saying the government would take firm measures against such efforts.

He said the police would be responsible for implementing those measures while maintaining public confidence and meeting citizens’ expectations.