Senior Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani on Saturday said the country remains as safe as before, noting that incidents of murder have decreased compared to previous years.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists on Saturday afternoon after inaugurating Modern Fire Service and Civil Defence Station at Shibu Market area of Fatullah in Narayanganj district, as the chief guest.

“You are as safe now as you were before. My statistics show that the number of murders in the country has declined compared to earlier times,” he said.

When asked whether the recent killings across the country could have an impact on the upcoming elections, the senior secretary said it would be difficult to make a blanket assessment.

“Whether it will have an impact or not depends on who was killed. It is very complicated to generalise,” he added.

Nasimul Gani also praised Fire Service for its role in public welfare, saying it responds promptly to emergencies.

“Fire Service is almost 100 percent successful in serving the people. They respond with just one call. If we fail to build and equip such a force properly, then that failure belongs to all of us,” he said.

He added that the government has sincere intentions and is continuing efforts, even at the final stage, to strengthen the service.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal, Commander of BGB Battalion-62 in Narayanganj Lieutenant Colonel Mirza Mohammad Arafat, Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md Raihan Kabir, Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman Munshi and Deputy Assistant Director of Narayanganj Fire Service Abdullah Al Arefin, among others