Ambassador Séré-Charlet expressed France’s interest in elevating bilateral relations with Bangladesh and strengthening cooperation in new sectors

BSS:

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has sought France’s cooperation in police reform and capacity building.

He made the appeal when the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, paid a courtesy call on him at his ministry office in the Bangladesh Secretariat here on Sunday.

The minister also said that improving the country’s law and order situation is the top priority of the current government, emphasizing ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen law enforcement agencies, including the police.

Welcoming the ambassador at the outset, the minister noted that the government has undertaken short, medium, and long-term plans to restore the image of law enforcement agencies and enhance their operational capacity.

The meeting featured detailed discussions on a range of bilateral issues, including law and order, security cooperation, mob control, counter-terrorism, police reform, restructuring of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), forensic collaboration, mutual legal assistance agreements, and identification of new areas of cooperation.

“We are working very seriously on police reform. However, this development cannot happen overnight; we aim to build a people-friendly police force through phased and continuous efforts,” he said.

He acknowledged that the interim government had faced challenges in controlling mob incidents, but added that since the current elected government assumed office, such incidents have largely subsided, with only a few isolated cases.

He reiterated that the government does not tolerate mob violence or disorder, while ensuring democratic space for political parties to hold meetings without causing public inconvenience.

On the reform of RAB, the minister stressed the necessity of maintaining an elite force within the state structure.

He said the force would continue to operate effectively through legal review, including possible renaming, while utilizing existing manpower and logistics.

Ambassador Séré-Charlet expressed France’s interest in elevating bilateral relations with Bangladesh and strengthening cooperation in new sectors.

He noted that France has already taken initiatives to support the capacity development of the Criminal Investigation Department’s forensic laboratory.

During the meeting, the Home Minister also sought French technical assistance to enhance the capabilities of the Anti-Riot Troop.

He directed the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to engage with the French Embassy and take necessary steps forward.

He further informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the French Embassy’s request to hold meetings with senior officials, including the Inspector General of Police, and the Director Generals of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, and Ansar, and has issued the necessary communication.

Among others present at the meeting were Rebeka Khan, Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Christel Fontaine, Deputy Homeland Security Attaché of the French Embassy, and Christian Bec, Political Counselor.