A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order yesterday reviewed the law and order and crime situation in the country and took some steps for its overall improvement, reports BSS.

Chaired by Home Minister Abdul Matin Chowdhury, the meeting was attended by LORD and Cooperatives Minister Abdus Salam Talukder, industries Minister Shamsul Islam Khan. Social Welfare and Women Affairs Minister Tariqul Islam. Information Minister Nazmui Huda, Labour and Manpower Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Amlnul Huq.

The meeting reiterated government's firm determination to ensure safety and security of life and property of the people for restoring a sense of relief in their minds about their safety and security and keeping it up, an official handout said here last night

It also stressed giving due importance on ensuring secu-

rity, justice, and proper law and order situation equal to basic needs and was told that the present accountable government would do everything possible to ensure these.

The meeting emphasised analysing the law and order situation from the point of view of present socio-politico -economic situation and felt it urgent that political unrest should be removed and socioeconomic condition should be improved side by side with proper execution of law.

Illegal arms in the hands of the anti-social elements, population explosion, unemployment. underground armed cadres, illegal activities of armed cadres of political parties. hartals, gherao, siege, inadequacy tn manpower and logistic supports of the law enforcing agencies, delay In the investigation and settlement of cases were identified as main reasons for the deterioration of law and order situation.

The meeting proposed for increasing manpower and logistic supports and modernisation of the law enforcing agencies. establishment of thana and police posts in accordance with the continued demands of different areas and ensuring quick disposal of cases and accountability for improvement of the situation.

It also decided to take measures after reviewing terrorism in the educational institutions, hijacking, extortion, smuggling, daeoity on the highways and in the water ways and traffic jam in the populous cities.

The meeting was informed that 692 police personnel were given major punishment including dismissal of 300 tn 1992. Besides, 7,760 police personnel including two SPs and three ASPs were given minor punishment during the period.

It was also informed in the meeting that 600 cases were filed and 1,157 persons were arrested till March 31 under the anti-terrorism law since its inception from September 15 last year, the handout said.

The meeting was also attended by Cabinet Secretary M Ayubur Rahman, Home Secretary Azlmuddin Ahmad, Law Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Director General of BDR. Director General of Ansar and VDP and high officials of the concerned departments and agencies