Amid the growing concern over detention in plainclothes, Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has categorically instructed the police officials not to arrest criminals while they are in plainclothes.

The home adviser came up with the instruction during a view exchange meeting held with officials of different departments and institutions in Jeshore on Tuesday.

“From now on, we will not allow police to detain or arrest any criminals while they are in plainclothes. We will have to retrieve the smashed dignity of the police,” he said while addressing the meeting.

Earlier on 6 January, the home adviser said that the members of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Police will no longer be allowed to arrest suspects while in plainclothes.

After inspecting the DB office in Dhaka, Alam said that the law enforcers will no longer be permitted to make arrests without proper identification.

Alam brought the issue to light at a time when people from various sectors, including business, are fearful of being kidnapped or abducted by criminals in the guise of plainclothes law enforcers.

The criminals, impersonation them as the members of law enforcement agencies, were committing crimes, including robbery, in the capital, Dhaka, soon after the 5 August changeover.

Referring to the sorry state of the Bangladesh Police during the Awami League regime, the home adviser said that the police administration must come out of its conventional trend to improve the country's law and order situation.

He also asked the authorities concerned to recover the arms and weapons went missing during the July-August mass upsurge.

Alongside, the law enforcers must keep their close watch on the top terrorists who are coming out of jail on bail.

About the spate of narcotic items in society, he said the law enforcers will have to build a strong resistance to protect the young generation from the adverse impact of drugs.