Digital forensic labs are planned in all eight divisions

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced plans to establish digital forensic laboratories at all eight divisional headquarters to combat cybercrime, digital fraud and online financial scams, as Bangladesh Police moves to bolster its digital investigation and scientific analysis capabilities from the central to the district and upazila levels.

Mr Salahuddin made the announcement on Wednesday after inaugurating a cyber police centre and digital forensic laboratory at Chattogram Metropolitan Police Lines in Dampara, developed with financial and technical assistance from the South Korean government and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). He said the evolving nature of crime in the digital age, including online fraud and stock market manipulation, had rendered advanced forensic facilities indispensable for gathering digital evidence, identifying offenders and preparing reliable reports for judicial proceedings. Furthermore, he noted that the government was equipping police with modern technology, logistical support and specialised training. Highlighting the role of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), he observed that the agency had run chemical laboratories since its inception, yet expanding their scope and capacity had become essential to expedite justice.

The new laboratory will operate under CID leadership while coordinating with other police units to analyse digital evidence, and a specialised police cyber unit headed by an additional inspector general began operating on 1 October. Meanwhile, the KOICA-backed project, titled Secure Cyber Space for Digital Bangladesh and approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on 18 April 2023, was implemented at a cost of roughly Tk 590.87 million. Moreover, the initiative included modern infrastructure at CID headquarters and domestic and international training for specialised personnel.

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Responding to questions about possible sabotage and the law and order situation ahead of the local government elections, the minister said the government bore specific responsibilities but that he anticipated no serious challenges. However, he cautioned that attacks on police officers and attempts to obstruct arrests would be met with firm action, and that legal measures would also be taken against those abetting such activities. The ceremony was chaired by CID Additional Inspector General Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain and attended by South Korean Ambassador Kim Ji-jun, Chattogram-10 MP Saeed Al Noman, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir, KOICA Bangladesh Office Director Ji-hoon Kim and other senior officials.