Bangladesh parliamentary committee briefed on transparent police recruitment, drug concerns

Bangladesh's parliamentary standing committee on the home ministry received assurances that police recruitment over the past six months has been conducted with "100 percent transparency," free from political interference. The committee, in its first meeting, also identified drug abuse and gambling as significant challenges facing the country, calling for effective and coordinated strategies to address these issues.

The meeting, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and chaired by committee Chairman Zainul Abedin MP, emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against drugs. It stressed the need for increased public awareness and a more robust, collaborative role from all stakeholders in the fight against narcotics. The home ministry reported that measures, including mobile courts and specialized tribunals, are already in place to combat drug-related offenses.

Discussions also covered the overall law and order situation and the measures being implemented to ensure public safety. The ministry provided an overview of its activities and presented details regarding budget allocations and expenditure plans for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The proposed budget for the home ministry totals Tk 31,099 crore, with Tk 28,638 crore allocated for operations and Tk 2,460 crore for development.

Attendees at the meeting included Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, whips Rakibul Islam and Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Opu, committee members, the home ministry's senior secretary, the inspector general of police, and heads of various agencies under the ministry.