Desk Report:
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that Sohel, the main accused in the sensational Ramisa rape and murder case in Mirpur of the capital, and his accomplice wife have been arrested within 24 hours of the incident. The main accused has given a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. A proper investigation into the case will be completed and a chargesheet will be filed in the court within the shortest possible time.
The minister said this at a press briefing on the contemporary law and order situation organized at the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday (May 21, 2026) afternoon.
The minister said that after the current government assumed office, the police have taken immediate action with the utmost professionalism in every heinous crime committed in the country. The accused in each incident have been brought under the law as soon as possible and there has been no deviation from this.
The minister, mentioning the two types of activities of the law enforcement agencies to improve law and order in the country, said that the police are working in both ‘pro-active’ and ‘re-active’ methods to suppress crime. The ongoing operations against drugs, extortion and terrorism are basically ‘pro-active’ or preventive measures, so that crimes cannot be committed. And in the case of unwanted crimes like rape or murder, the arrest and investigation of the accused is being completed as soon as possible as a ‘re-active’ measure.
The minister also said that after taking office, the current government has taken the initiative to re-list and investigate several important and sensational cases that have been pending for a long time and are outside the judicial process. One of these is the murder case of Victoria College student Tonu in Comilla. One of the accused in this case has been arrested and the process of DNA matching is underway and another accused has already been identified. Besides, all the accused involved in each incident like gang rape in Comilla, rape of a young woman in Bogra, five murders in Kapasia and murder of an expatriate in Manda, Dhaka have been arrested red-handed.
Mentioning the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)’s special combing operations and block raids to maintain law and order, the Home Minister said that flawless searches and block raids have been going on in Mohammadpur, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Adabor areas of Dhaka since the first week of May. Besides, 41 and 63 warranted accused and kidnappers were arrested in operations in Jatrabari and Tejgaon police stations on May 18 and 19, respectively. Long-time absconding accused were also arrested in special operations by RAB-15 in Chittagong and Ukhia-Teknaf regions.
Responding to a question from journalists on law reform, the Minister said, “Law reform is an ongoing process and all laws will be updated according to the needs of the time.” However, he warned that it is not appropriate to formulate laws or form special courts out of emotion to satisfy a temporary grievance. In ensuring speedy trial, care must also be taken that there is no ‘injustice’ or misuse of strict laws. He commented that it is more logical financially and administratively to increase the number and capacity of existing women and child abuse prevention courts than to create new courts or tribunals.
Responding to a question from journalists regarding the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in West Bengal, India, and the West Bengal Chief Minister’s statement on pushback, the Home Minister clarified, “This is completely an internal matter of India. India’s ‘CAA’ or Assam’s ‘NRC’ are their own laws and regulations for their citizens. We have no room to say anything there. However, the BGB is on the highest alert at the Bangladesh border to prevent any kind of illegal infiltration (push-in).”
Regarding the rumors and legal status of the former prime minister of the previous government returning to the country, the minister said, “We want him back through the legal process. A formal request has been made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in accordance with the existing extradition agreement to return him so that he can face trial in Bangladesh.”
