I would call law-and-order situation ‘satisfactory’, says Home Advisor Jahangir

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury says he called a 3am press conference to let everyone know that he is working day and night

Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has described the law and order in the country as “satisfactory”, but says there is room for improvement.

He spoke to the media on Monday afternoon after a core committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The home affairs advisor said that in the last 53 years of independence, no media outlet has written that the law and order in Bangladesh is good.

"Before this, it might have taken two days to learn about the Banasree incident. But now everyone knows about it immediately. That's why we think that there has been a major change in the law-and-order situation. Such minor incidents have happened before, and this happened just a day or two ago. We have discussed what measures can be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We don't want even a single such incident to happen."

When asked what instructions have been given to law enforcers, the advisor said, "You will see tonight that their activities have increased a lot."

Asked why there had been demands for his resignation despite the satisfactory state of law and order, the advisor said: "You are just talking of my resignation. Since taking up the job in the Ministry of Home Affairs, my funeral has been held and I’ve even been buried. I have received the blessings of experiencing my funeral while I was alive!"

A reporter asked why a 3am press conference was necessary for the home advisor if the law and order was so satisfactory. Jahangir said: "Under previous regimes, none of you would have been found at this time of night. But now, you have all come within half an hour. Since we know that you are all working day and night, I also want to make it clear that we are also following the same rhythm and working day and night ourselves. To let you know that the home affairs advisor not only works during the day, but also briefs at night if necessary."

Responding to a journalist's question about police are truly active, the advisor said: "You have to be the one to tell me whether the situation is better than how I found it. However, there is room for them to be more active."

Asked whether recent incidents of crime were calling Operation Devil Hunt into question, Jahangir said:

"Operation Devil Hunt was conducted so that quick action could be taken in such incidents. We arrested three people immediately after the incident in Rajshahi. And we have brought the OCs [officers-in-charge] who delayed taking the case to book. We have suspended them. At another time it would not have happened so quickly. Based on your reports, we are also bringing many senior police officers to justice."