No exemption for those involved in ‘case trading’

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that no individual involved in "case trading" will be spared, reaffirming the government's commitment to rooting out corruption within the law enforcement system.

He said, “We have already taken action against 84 individuals and sent 30 to 40 officials home. If we uncover more evidence of corruption, we will not hesitate to take further action.”

The adviser came up with the warning note while speaking to reporters after visiting Gacha Police Station under the Gazipur Metropolitan Police on Tuesday morning.

The term "case trading" refers to the alleged practice of filing or manipulating legal cases for financial or political gain.

Addressing concerns that police stations are often reluctant to accept general diaries (GDs) or complaints, Chowdhury said digital systems are being introduced to eliminate such barriers.

“You can now file GDs and cases online. There is no need to visit the police station in person. We’ve already launched this initiative in Sylhet, and it will soon be expanded across the country,” he said, adding that the move aims to curb corruption and make the justice system more accessible.

Chowdhury also touched on broader issues of systemic corruption, calling it one of the biggest challenges facing the nation.

“Corruption is present in every corner of our lives. If we can bring it under control, Bangladesh will make significant progress,” he noted, urging journalists and civil society to raise public awareness.

On the investigation into politically sensitive cases, including the July 2009 and August 2015 killings, the adviser acknowledged delays due to the large number of accused individuals.

“Earlier, police would name 15 to 20 suspects in such cases. Now, complainants are including many more names. This increases the burden on investigators and raises the risk of implicating innocent people,” he said. “We want to ensure that only the guilty are punished and no innocent person suffers.”

To ensure transparency during interrogations, Chowdhury announced plans to install glass-walled rooms where remand interrogations can be observed to prevent abuse.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dr. Md. Nazmul Karim Khan and other senior officials were present during the visit.