Govt to thwart any attempt to foil war trial

Law enforcement agencies must prevent activities which create anarchy in the country with the intention of sabotaging the trial of war criminals, said State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque yesterday.
He directed them to stay alert as attempts to create instability in the country by exploiting mosques and madrasas have already begun, in a bid to save the war criminals.
The process of war crimes trial has started, he said, while addressing a view exchange meeting with the law enforcement agencies at Chittagong Circuit House.
The minister said, “No political party or group will be allowed to hold any programmes in mosques, madrasas or on the streets in favour of the alleged war criminals.”
They have to go through a legal procedure at the court of law, he added.
The minister directed the agencies to continue their ongoing operations to combat terrorism, militancy and drug-dealing in order to maintain law and order situation.
He also asked the Narcotics Control Department to start mobile court drives as soon as possible.
The government has decided to recruit a total of 32,000 members of the police force of which 13,000 will be appointed this year, in an effort to modernise police, the minister informed.
Three large laboratories would be established in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna to help the police to examine drugs and other chemical substances, while seven smaller ones would be set up exclusively for Rab, he added.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chittagong range Asaduzzaman Mia, Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Abul Kashem, Commanding Officer of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Lt Col Sajjad Hossain and Additional Deputy Commissioner of the district Zaker Hossain were present, among others.
Senior officials of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, district police, Rab, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Ansar, Government Railway Police and Narcotics Control Department were also present at the meeting.