Police Academy to Be Established in Chattogram's Jungle Salimpur on Model of Sardah: Home Minister

Academy modeled after Police Academy at Sardah in Rajshahi will be established in Jungle Salimpur of Chattogram, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said.

Minister made disclosure while briefing journalists after two separate meetings held at conference room of Ministry of Home Affairs at Bangladesh Secretariat Thursday.

Meetings were second meeting of National Committee on Coordination, Management and Law and Order concerning Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals and separate meeting convened to improve overall law-and-order situation in Chattogram's Jungle Salimpur.

Salahuddin Ahmed said government has taken initiatives to recover government-owned khas land in Jungle Salimpur and make area free from criminal activities.

As part of plan, around 300 acres of land will be allocated for establishing police academy modeled after Sardah, while Chattogram Central Jail will be relocated to separate 72-acre site in area.

Minister said government is prioritizing rehabilitation of illegal residents of Jungle Salimpur and establishment of orderly governance and proper administration on government land.

Measures to strengthen security in Rohingya camps

Regarding security and infrastructure in Rohingya camps, home minister said government has decided to establish two army camps under leadership of 10th Infantry Division based in Ramu to prevent abductions and ransom-taking in hilly areas of Cox's Bazar, particularly in Rangikhali and Noakhalipara.

He said initiatives have also been taken to rebuild damaged sections of barbed-wire fencing outside camps, install solar-powered lights and closed-circuit television cameras, and construct watchtowers and control towers to strengthen security.

Joint operations to be intensified

Minister said coordinated joint operations led by Armed Police Battalion will be intensified inside Rohingya camps to curb drug trafficking, online gambling, human trafficking and activities of armed groups.

He said around 400 officers of rank of sub-inspector serving in APBn have been granted legal authority to investigate cases, a measure that is expected to accelerate criminal investigations and strengthen law enforcement inside camps.

However, existing provision for strengthening security during emergencies will remain in place, he said. Under existing standard operating procedure, security can be reinforced under leadership of brigadier general of Bangladesh Army acting as representative of armed forces.

Government confident of early Rohingya repatriation

Responding to question from journalists, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said government believes repatriation of Rohingyas can be completed at earliest possible time through international cooperation and coordinated efforts led by United Nations.

He expressed government's expectation that stronger international support and coordinated UN-led initiative would help accelerate repatriation process.