Road blockades, mob culture won’t be tolerated anymore: Home minister

The newly elected government won't allow the continuation of road blockades in the name of different demands nor mob culture – two crisis that were rife during the interim administration's tenure, warned Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday.

There can be different demands from different groups, and they can hold rallies, processions in the proper and legal manner to highlight their claims, Salahuddin told reporters, adding all the democratic practices will continue.

However, blocking roads to press home demands or organising mobs won’t be tolerated, the home minister said after hosting a views exchange meeting with ministry office staffers at the Secretariat on his first day in office.

“Mob culture” has to come to an end in Bangladesh, he said.

Highlighting the reform measures in the home ministry, Salahuddin said he wants to develop a completely corruption-free ministry.

Police have been instructed to become a “friend of the people” to recover the force’s lost image, Salahuddin said.

Furthermore, accountability and transparency must be ensured in the police force and no illegal solicitations will be accepted.

If any policeman is reported to be involved in a crime, action will be taken promptly following investigation, the home minister noted.