Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Saturday denied BNP’s allegation of mass arrest, saying that police has been trying to arrest ‘terrorists’.

The Home Minister came up with the remark when his attention was drawn about BNP’s allegation of ‘mass arrest’ of its leaders and workers to thwart the party’s prospect of poll participation, reports the UNB.

Minister was inaugurating the Passport Service Week 2018 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital on Saturday.

 ‘The national elections are far away. Before that, you have seen that chaotic situation was created on way of Khaleda Zia to special court of Bakshibazar and return to her Gulshan residence. Police were attacked, attempts were made to snatch away rifles as well as accused were snatched away from the prison van after vandalizing it in front of High court Mazar Gate area on Tuesday ,’ the Home Monster said.

Attempt on the life of police was there in Rajshahi back in 2014. Attack on police on Tuesday is similar to that of Rajshahi incident, he said.

‘So we already identified the attackers scrutinizing video footages of Tuesday’s incident. Police is now trying to arrest those identified people,’ the Home Minister said adding that there is no political purpose here. ‘We have been arresting terrorists.’

Home Minister said after completion of issuing Smart NID, there will no need for police verification to get a passport as NIDs have been given after verification, he said. ‘Police verification is similar to Smart ID verifications,’ he added.

Replying to another question about allegation of providing police verification in exchange of money, Assaduzaman Khan Kamal said ‘I think it is not correct.’

In one or two instances it might have taken place but actions follow whenever such incidences are brought into attention, he said. ‘It is a continuous process…Actions are taken if any irregularities are identified.’

Earlier addressing the inaugural session of the Passport Service Week 2018, the Home minister said that the government has taken various pragmatic steps for modernisation of the passport department. ‘We have been working to introduce e-passport as well to set up e-gate at the international airports. ‘ After setting up e-gate at airport immigration points, people carrying e-passports, can cross immigration quickly without any hassle, the Home Minister said.

Home Ministry’s Security Services Division Secretary Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Director General of Immigration and Passport Maj Gen Masud Rezwan, local MP Jahangir Kabir Nanok also addressed the function, among others.