Law and order improved visibly over past 180 days: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said the country’s law and order situation has witnessed visible improvement over the last six months, or 180 days.

“The people of the country will assess whether they are satisfied with the law and order situation. However, from the government’s perspective, we can certainly say that there has been visible improvement over the last six months,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while briefing journalists after a meeting of the committee formed to make recommendations on the report of the Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission, 2025, at the Ministry of Finance at the Secretariat this afternoon.

He said more time would be needed to further consolidate the situation in line with people’s expectations.

“We have completed only six months. During this period, we have carried out many reform initiatives, and you have seen several commendable initiatives by the law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Ahmed said various initiatives and programmes, undertaken and implemented by the government during the past 180 days, had received appreciation from the people.

Referring to the government’s broader performance, he said several commendable and people-oriented initiatives had been taken during the first 180 days in line with the roadmap announced by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

He said the government had faced a series of global and domestic challenges since assuming office but had dealt with them efficiently and successfully.

On the global energy crisis stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war, the minister said the government did not immediately increase fuel prices despite the sharp rise in global energy prices.

“To protect the interests of farmers during the Boro season, the government deferred the price hike for nearly a month and later decided to make an adjustment at a tolerable level,” he said.

Fuel prices in the global market and neighbouring countries had risen almost twofold during the period, he continued.

The minister said the longstanding gas and energy crisis inherited from the previous government could not be resolved overnight.

The present government, he said, was working on sustainable and long-term plans to overcome the crisis.

Ensuring adequate primary energy supply is essential to attracting global investors, expanding trade and business and maintaining production, he said.

Ahmed said a decision had been taken, following the Prime Minister’s visit to Matarbari Deep Sea Port, to establish a full-fledged land-based LNG terminal there.

At the same time, the government has taken initiatives to install multiple floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) to address disruptions in gas supply caused by frequent mechanical problems at the existing Summit and Excelerate Energy floating terminals, he said.

Surveys are currently underway to identify suitable locations for the additional FSRUs, he added.

The minister also said new gas exploration activities had begun both onshore and offshore to reduce dependence on imports, expressing hope that the initiative would lead to a sustainable solution to the crisis within the next few years.

Highlighting social safety-net and welfare measures, Ahmed said the government had approved and implemented a historic decision to waive agricultural loans of up to Taka 10,000 at its very first Cabinet meeting.

The government is also distributing Family Cards and Farmer Cards, while monthly honorariums are being provided to religious officials and imams and muezzins of different faiths, he said.

He added that a number of welfare measures had also been taken to provide social and state recognition to the country’s sportspersons and cultural personalities.

As head of the National Procurement Committee for ensuring food security, the minister said the government’s appropriate policies and timely decisions had enabled the country to build a strong and secure food stock.