No Formal Decision on Joint Operations, Says Home Minister
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has not formally decided to launch joint operations, describing coordinated activities among law enforcement agencies as a regular process. He also announced plans for a new, larger Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) headquarters in Dhaka, alongside measures to improve traffic management and strengthen accountability within security forces.
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In a Nutshell:
- Speaking at a press briefing in Tejgaon on Thursday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said no formal decision has been taken to launch joint operations, while coordinated activities by police, BGB, RAB and Ansar remain a regular process to tackle terrorism, extortion and drugs, which will be further strengthened.
- The minister said Bangladesh Ansar and VDP include around 20,000 battalion Ansar members, 60,000 attached Ansar members and nearly 6 million trained personnel under 35,000 VDP team leaders.
- The government has allocated 3.428 acres of land in Tejgaon for a new Ansar and VDP headquarters, replacing the existing facility in Khilgaon, which faces space and accessibility constraints. Moreover, additional accommodation facilities are being developed in Ashulia and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to address housing shortages among Ansar members deployed in Dhaka.
- He also added that law enforcement personnel found involved in misconduct or criminal activities would face departmental action and criminal cases, not merely be withdrawn from duty.
- He said automation and artificial intelligence are being introduced in Dhaka’s traffic management system to process traffic cases automatically and improve road discipline.
- The minister also said road excavation and construction work would be carried out in phases, with sections restored promptly to reduce traffic congestion.
Context
After unveiling the foundation plaque for a new Ansar and VDP headquarters in Tejgaon, amid concerns about law enforcement operations and public security, the Home Minister clarified that the government has not made a formal decision to launch a new round of joint operations, while presenting coordinated activities among police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar as an ongoing approach to addressing terrorism, extortion and drug-related offences. Salahuddin also highlighted the size of the Ansar and VDP forces, which include battalions and attached Ansar members, as well as millions of trained VDP personnel. He praised the force’s contribution to maintaining law and order during national crises, including the July mass uprising, and reiterated the government’s commitment to gradually addressing its financial and other demands.
Why It Matters
Recent attacks, vandalism, and attempted takeovers in different parts of the capital have raised public safety concerns. To address this, a more visible security presence, along with improved facilities for trained VDP members and deployed Ansar personnel, is introduced to strengthen their readiness and working conditions. The minister has also called for strict action against personnel accused of misconduct. Instead of simply removing them from duty, authorities should file criminal cases when necessary, thereby improving accountability. In addition, automation and AI in traffic management is used, which may reduce congestion if authorities apply these systems openly and consistently.
What We Think
With attacks and vandalism, rumours regarding Sheikh Hasina returning this December are entirely baseless speculations intended to create public confusion and spread misinformation. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry continues to handle security and administrative duties with steady competence by focusing on ground-level stability rather than distractions.