EC orders heightened vigilance against covert attacks ahead of national polls

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed law enforcement agencies to take firm action to prevent and suppress any covert attacks aimed at disrupting the upcoming national election, saying there is no concern about the vote being held on schedule.

The directive was issued following an emergency law and order meeting held at the commission headquarters yesterday (14 December), chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.

The meeting was attended by the four election commissioners and senior officials from various law enforcement agencies.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the EC was not dismissing the possibility of covert or ambush-style attacks and had instructed authorities to ensure such incidents do not recur.

"There is a possibility of covert attacks, and we are not ignoring this," he said.

"The message from the Election Commission is clear: there is no concern regarding the election. The election will be held on time, and any attempt to create obstacles will be suppressed."

The emergency meeting was convened a day after Sharif Osman Hadi, an aspiring independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency and spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, was shot, less than 24 hours after the EC announced the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a referendum on Thursday (11 December).

Sanaullah said representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and other government agencies attended the meeting, where developments since the announcement of the election schedule were reviewed and future strategies discussed.

He said the attack on Osman Hadi was examined in detail, describing it as a covert attack, but added that details were not being disclosed to avoid hampering the investigation. He said individuals connected to the incident were being identified.

Asked whether the shooting could create fear among candidates and voters, Sanaullah said the intention behind such incidents was to spread fear, but stressed that the EC would not allow that objective to succeed.

He also said the meeting discussed the issue of individuals arrested during the recent law enforcement operation, "Devil Hunt", who had since been released on bail and were now present in society, and what steps could be taken in this regard.

He stated that the EC has given strict instructions regarding the fear of covert attacks and their tackling.

"Is this attack part of a large plan, or is it an isolated event? Are there any failures there? These issues were discussed, and a kind of evaluation took place," he said that they also discussed reports of attempts to set fire to upazila-level election offices in two locations.

He further added, "These incidents point to the possibility of stealth attacks. We are not saying this cannot happen again. That is why today's main objective was to ensure that such attacks do not recur or are strictly suppressed."

He said the EC had instructed that perpetrators must be apprehended promptly if such incidents occur.

"All forces have conveyed a united message that anyone who tries to foil or harm the election will fail," he said, adding that the EC was satisfied with the steps taken so far by the government and law enforcement agencies, while also identifying areas where further work is needed.

According to meeting sources, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin expressed deep concern at the start of the meeting over the shooting of Osman Hadi, describing the incident as shocking as a thunderclap, given its timing so soon after the election schedule announcement.