Staff Reporter
Home Minister Sahara Khatun yesterday asked the law- enforcing agencies to nab the extortionists, whoever he may be, to stop overt or covert toll taking.
“Whatever it is-overtly or covertly–smash the hands of extortionists,” she said responding to a reporter’s question about silent extortion across the country.
Briefing reporters on law and order on the eve of upazila parishad elections and outcome of the meeting of the national smuggling-prevention committee, the Home Minister said the Government strategy is to deal with an iron hand with those who want to create law-and-order situation.
She sought cooperation of the people in curbing terrorism, rooting out militancy and eliminating extortion. The Home Minister dismissed the apprehension about party influence on the upazila elections scheduled for January 22. “The law enforcers must remain free from political influence. Here there will be no party influence,” she asserted.
Sahara said the election commission conducts the uapzila elections and “we will abide by the election code of conduct.” She hoped that the upazila elections would also be held peacefully like the parliament elections.
Some 513,800 law- enforcers, including 38,000 army troops, will be deployed before the upazila polls across the country. The numbers of other forces – police 69,000, ansars 388,000, BDR 12,000, Navy 16,00, RAB 5,000 and Coast Guard 200.
State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj was present.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
