Staff Correspondent:

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that Bangladesh’s biggest problem is corruption.

“It has penetrated every pore of the system. If only we could somehow bring it under control. That is why I seek the cooperation of journalists. Please make people aware. If you speak the truth, a lot can be fixed,” he said.

In response to a question from journalists, the adviser said: “Reform in the police force is an ongoing process. A pilot project has already been initiated for this. Previously, it was said that the police did not want to take GDs [General Diaries] or cases. That is why we have now arranged for the process of filing cases to be done online. Now, GDs can be filed from home. As a result, people no longer have to go to the police station or suffer harassment to file a case.”

He made these remarks on Tuesday at 11am while speaking to journalists after visiting the Gacha Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP).

The adviser further said: “We will build glass-walled rooms for interrogating people on remand, so that others can also see whether any mistreatment is taking place with the accused. Cases are now being taken online to stop the business of filing false cases. If anyone is involved in case trading or corruption, they will not be spared. False news allows those involved in corruption to benefit, even neighboring countries benefit from it. If any member of the police is involved in case trading or corruption, they will not be spared.

“We have attached 84 individuals of various ranks. I have already sent 30–40 of them home. If I have to send another 30–40 home, I will not hesitate one bit—if they are involved in any form of corruption.”

When asked whether the investigation of various cases filed over the post–August 5 anti-discrimination movement attacks could be completed quickly, he said: “You know, earlier the police would file cases as the complainant, naming 10–15 individuals and accusing numerous unnamed persons. What has happened this time? You yourselves gave names of 10–15 people and filed cases accusing 200–250 unnamed individuals. That’s why the investigations are getting delayed.

“In these cases, there are clearly guilty individuals, but also quite a few who are more or less innocent or may be innocent. So we will ensure that those who are guilty are brought to justice, and that no innocent person is punished in any way.”