IGP Conducts Midnight Security Sweep

The newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Ali Hossain Fakir, made an unannounced midnight inspection of security arrangements in the রাজধানী ঢাকা on Thursday night, declaring that he had “personally taken to the streets” to ensure public safety.

Having formally assumed office only a day earlier, on Wednesday, the IGP began his field visit shortly after midnight in the Mohammadpur এলাকায়—an area long regarded as one of the capital’s crime-prone neighbourhoods. His tour included visits to Geneva Camp, Mohammadpur Town Hall and the busy Three-Roads intersection, where he observed police deployment and spoke directly with officers on duty.

He was accompanied by senior officers of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, including its Acting Commissioner, Mohammad Sarwar, Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Ibn Mizan, and Mohammadpur থানার Officer-in-Charge Mezbah Uddin.

“No Criminal Will Be Spared”

Later, at approximately 1:00 am, Mr Fakir paid a surprise visit to Mohammadpur Police Station, where he briefed waiting journalists.

“I have come onto the streets myself for the safety of city residents,” he said. “Whoever the criminal may be, they will be dealt with firmly. No one will be spared.”

He acknowledged that ordinary citizens remain anxious due to the activities of juvenile gangs, muggers and narcotics traffickers. In response, special evening block raids are being conducted to bring offenders—particularly those involved in robbery and drug-related crime—within the ambit of the law.

A Personal Connection

Reflecting on his own past, the IGP revealed that in 1986, during his university years, he was himself a victim of mugging near Geneva Camp while visiting a relative. That experience, he said, left a lasting impression and shaped his perception of Mohammadpur as an area where criminal networks and illicit trades have flourished for decades.

He also pointed to broader urban challenges, noting that the encroachment of pavements has now extended to roads, obstructing pedestrian and vehicular movement alike.

Police Strength and Public Responsibility

Mr Fakir highlighted the structural pressures facing the force. Bangladesh has a population of roughly 200 million, served by approximately 220,000 police personnel. In Dhaka alone, an estimated 40 million residents rely on metropolitan policing services.

He emphasised that law and order are fundamental to economic stability and investor confidence. “If the security situation is not normal, both the economy and investment suffer,” he observed.

Calling for greater civic responsibility, he urged citizens to comply with the law and support the police in maintaining order.

Reform and Future Measures

The IGP announced that restructuring work within the traffic division is under way. With the upcoming festival of Eid-ul-Fitr expected to trigger a mass exodus from the capital, he pledged to remain active in night patrols to ensure the safe movement of homebound travellers.

He further stressed that enforcement would extend to so-called “white-collar” criminals, adding that all action would be taken within the bounds of existing law and without violating human rights. Effective policing, he argued, requires not only operational strength but also a transformation in institutional mindset. “Police must act as true public servants,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of changes to police uniforms, Mr Fakir replied briefly that the matter was under government consideration.

The midnight inspection, coming within 24 hours of his appointment, appears intended to signal a hands-on leadership style and a renewed focus on visible policing in some of the capital’s most sensitive areas.