No ‘Operation Clean Heart’ Plan, Says Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has no plans to form a separate joint force or launch an operation modelled on the past ‘Operation Clean Heart’ to improve law and order across the country.

He made the remarks on Thursday (October 1) while answering questions from reporters after unveiling the foundation plaque of the new headquarters of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

The minister said the government had neither planned to establish a special joint force to maintain law and order nor considered launching an operation similar to ‘Operation Clean Heart’.

He also said there had been no public announcement from the government regarding the formation of a new security force.

However, he said ongoing joint operations involving different law-enforcement agencies would be strengthened to combat crime nationwide and ensure public safety.

Police, Ansar and other law-enforcement agencies have been instructed to work in greater coordination and remain more active in maintaining public security and keeping the law-and-order situation under control.

The minister’s comments came amid recent discussion over the possibility of a large-scale security operation following a series of criminal incidents in Dhaka and elsewhere. Recent reports had referred to the possibility of an operation modelled on the 2002 ‘Operation Clean Heart’, although no such operation had been officially announced.

‘Operation Clean Heart’ was launched in October 2002 as an army-led anti-crime drive and lasted 85 days. More than 40,000 military personnel were deployed during the operation, according to Human Rights Watch.