Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said no formal decision has been taken to launch joint operations in the country, adding that coordinated activities by law enforcement agencies are a regular process that will be strengthened to combat terrorism, extortion and drug-related crimes.
He made the remarks at a press briefing on Thursday after unveiling the foundation plaque for the construction of the new headquarters of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
The minister said the coordinated activities of police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Special Response Battalion (SRB), formerly RAB, and Ansar are conducted regularly to maintain law and order.
He said the construction of a modern headquarters at a suitable location would fulfil a long-standing aspiration of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP.
The Public Works Ministry has allocated 3.428 acres of land, equivalent to around 11 bighas, for the project, he said.
The existing headquarters in Khilgaon faces space constraints and transport-related difficulties. The new facility is expected to address these limitations and provide a larger, modern infrastructure for the force.
Ahmed said Bangladesh currently has around 20,000 battalion Ansar members and 60,000 attached Ansar members. In addition, nearly six million trained personnel serve under 35,000 VDP team leaders.
He described Ansar as the country's largest force in terms of its combined regular and irregular manpower.
To address accommodation shortages for Ansar members assigned to central duties, additional facilities are being developed in Ashulia and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, including dormitories and barracks.
The minister praised the role of Ansar members in maintaining law and order during national crises, including the July mass uprising. He also reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the force's financial and other demands in phases.
Regarding law enforcement agencies, Ahmed said officials found to have neglected their duties or engaged in criminal activities were facing not only withdrawal from their assignments but also departmental proceedings and criminal cases, where evidence warranted such action.
He said no force would be allowed to create instability in the country during December, which Bangladesh observes as Victory Month.
On traffic management in Dhaka, the minister said automation and artificial intelligence were being introduced to improve traffic control. The technology is enabling automated processing of traffic cases and helping restore discipline on the roads, he added.
He also said instructions had been issued to carry out road excavation and construction in sections rather than disrupting entire roads at once, with completed sections to be restored promptly to reduce traffic congestion.
