Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has said that intelligence agencies are working to identify criminals by preparing area-specific lists and filing cases against them, as part of broader efforts to ensure a safe and fair electoral environment.

He said, “Our intelligence agencies are trying to identify criminals through area-based monitoring and are filing cases accordingly,” said Alam. “You may say we have not yet achieved full success, but we are making progress. In areas where incidents are widespread, we’ve managed to address about 50 percent of the issues.”

The IGP was speaking to reporters on Saturday (12 July) after visiting the Dhaka District Police Line, Range Reserve Force (RRF), and Traffic and Driving School (TDS) at Mill Barracks in Old Dhaka.

He also underscored the need for cooperation from all political parties to hold peaceful and credible elections.

When asked about the recent murder of businessman Sohag in Old Dhaka, the IGP acknowledged ongoing challenges in law enforcement and intelligence operations. 

He said, “After such traumatic incidents, reorganizing our forces and ensuring their effectiveness remains a significant challenge. I’m not fully satisfied with our performance in that regard.”

In response to questions about political involvement in such incidents, the police chief said, “We will certainly seek the cooperation of all political parties. Since we want fair elections and a democratically elected government, their support is essential.”

When asked what kind of cooperation would be required, he replied, “We want collaboration in every area—so that no party shelters wrongdoers and law enforcement can act without bias. We’re essentially trying to engage them constructively.”

SMS/