Envoy assures home minister of Swiss support for police reform

Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh,
Reto Renggli, today (25 March) called on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his
office in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to a
press release, the meeting focused on a wide range of bilateral and strategic
issues, including law enforcement and security cooperation, counterterrorism
efforts, parliamentary democracy, police reform, financial sector reforms,
prevention of money laundering, combating digital fraud and scams, repatriation
of illicitly transferred funds, mutual legal assistance agreements, and the
expansion of trade and commerce.
The home minister
welcomed the ambassador and expressed appreciation for Switzerland's continued
engagement with Bangladesh.
Ambassador Renggli congratulated the
minister on assuming his new portfolio.
Emphasising the
government's priorities, Ahmed stated that improving the law-and-order
situation remains a top agenda item.
He reaffirmed the
government's commitment to fostering genuine parliamentary democracy, ensuring
that all political parties can exercise their democratic rights, including
holding rallies and assemblies, provided public inconvenience is minimised.
Criticising past
practices, the minister noted that excessive force had previously been used
against political groups, which he described as unfortunate.
Ambassador Renggli assured Switzerland's support in enhancing the capacity of
Bangladesh's police force and advancing police reforms through technical and
strategic assistance.
He also inquired
about the challenges in implementing the current government's reform agenda and
stressed the importance of a functional parliament and constructive political
dialogue.
Referring to his
recent participation in the Global Fraud Summit 2026 held in Vienna on 16–17
March 2026, the home minister highlighted that digital fraud now accounts for
nearly 40 percent of global fraud cases.
He described it as
a growing global challenge that requires coordinated international efforts to
address effectively.
The ambassador
echoed these concerns and underscored the need for joint initiatives in
tackling transnational crimes.
On the issue of
extremism, the minister stated that while minor elements of radicalism may
exist, Bangladesh has not experienced terrorism at a significant level.
He credited the
Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime
(CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for their effective role in
countering threats.
Discussing
economic reforms, the minister stressed that achieving economic stability is
essential for sustainable development.
Ambassador Renggli
agreed, noting that economic stability is a key driver of national progress.
The minister also
specifically called for strengthened cooperation from Switzerland in recovering
laundered money and supporting broader reform initiatives.
Officials present
at the meeting included Joint Secretary Rebeka Khan from the Political-1
Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Counsellor Alberto Giovanetti from
the Swiss Embassy.
In a separate
meeting later, the home minister also held a meeting with Kristian Hölge,
Regional Director for South Asia at the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), to discuss issues related to regional cooperation in combating
crime and illicit activities.















