Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday (Aug 18) that 27,637 personnel have been recruited across different law enforcement and security agencies to strengthen security ahead of the upcoming national elections. 

The adviser detailed the new appointments in a statement to reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law and order at the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

He said the police force had recruited 15,851 personnel, 4,469 of whom joined Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 5,551 of whom were appointed to the Ansar force.

In addition, 1,558 personnel were recruited to prisons and 208 to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, although these posts are not directly linked to election duties. 

He added that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) had been reinforced with new personnel, while the Coast Guard had taken members from the Navy.

“These are all new appointments made under the current government,” he said.

Asked about the positions, Chowdhury explained that the police recruitment covered constables and sub-inspectors, while superintendents of police (SPs) were not included in the new intake. BGB and Ansar recruits were taken in at the constable level.

Responding to whether these were fresh posts or vacancies, he said: “Most of them are newly created positions, while some appointments were made against existing vacancies.”

When questioned about the arrest of the MyTV chairman, despite the plaintiff stating there was no involvement, the adviser replied: “You should ask the court. If the arrest was unlawful, the court would not have upheld it. Courts are independent.”

He further stressed that innocent people must not be subjected to harassment. “Those guilty will not escape under any circumstances. We often catch the small fry, while the big ones go free. Now that a major figure has been arrested, everyone is talking. But no one says anything when the smaller ones are caught. Still, we thank you for always reporting the truth.”

SMS/