No plan for ‘Operation Clean Heart’-style drive
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has no plan to launch a special operation like the past “Operation Clean Heart,” although law enforcement agencies are preparing to conduct coordinated operations to improve the country’s law and order situation.
He made the remarks on Thursday morning after unveiling the foundation plaque for the new headquarters of the Ansar and Village Defence Party in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
He was speaking about the overall law and order situation in the country.
Referring to the regular activities of law enforcement agencies, the home minister said, “We have not made any public announcement about forming a joint force.
Our law enforcement agencies and various organisations have plans to conduct coordinated operations.
Alongside police, BGB and other forces, Ansar battalions will also take part in that operation.”
He said the government has no plans to conduct a special operation like “Operation Clean Heart”, which was carried out in the past.
Instead, he said, regular and coordinated operations by law enforcement agencies to curb serious crimes, including terrorism, extortion and drug-related offences, are already under way and will be intensified in the future.
The minister also said no law enforcement personnel found negligent in their duties would be spared.
“Where negligence of duty comes to our notice, we are taking departmental proceedings against them and, where necessary, legal action for criminal offences. We have conveyed this message everywhere,” he said.
Asked about speculation surrounding December, he said, “Why do you keep going on about December? December is our month of victory. I do not believe any malign force can create unrest here in December.”
Speaking about Dhaka’s traffic situation, the home minister said there had been visible improvement over the past six to seven months.
He attributed the progress to joint efforts by the city corporations, police, the Roads Division and other government agencies.
He directed authorities to ensure greater discipline in road excavation work. He said instructions had been given that roadwork should be completed and the road reconstructed section by section before work begins on another section, rather than excavating an entire road at once.
The minister also said automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technology were helping bring greater discipline to the traffic management system.
According to him, people have also started complying more with traffic laws, with positive changes such as keeping the left-hand lane clear becoming increasingly visible.
