Officials linked to past 3 elections to be barred from upcoming election duties: Home adviser

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today (12 October) said that in order to hold the upcoming general election in a free, fair and impartial manner, the government has decided to refrain from assigning election duties to those who performed them in elections held under the fascist regime. 

"During the upcoming election, refrain as much as possible from giving election duties to people who performed them in the previous 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections, for holding it in a free, fair, neutral and peaceful manner," Jahangir said while briefing journalists about the outcome of today's core committee meeting on law and order.

Replying to a question, the adviser said they are taking every possible measure so that no one can disrupt the peaceful holding of the next general election.

"There will be no problem; the election will be held in a better way," he said.

Asked about whether he wants a safe exit, Jahangir said, "My children live in the country. What will I do if I go alone?"

About the issues discussed in today's meeting, the adviser said they mainly discussed several matters to be addressed by the home ministry to hold the national election in a better way.

He said they have decided to take strict legal actions against persons or groups involved in creating chaos ahead of the election.

Jahangir said they also discussed formulating a clear action plan in coordination with all stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming national election is conducted in a free, fair and impartial manner.

The adviser said they have given instructions to deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, upazila nirbahi officers and OCs at the field level to work impartially to ensure that the upcoming national election is free, fair and impartial.

He said they have also decided to warn members of law enforcement agencies and officials on election duties about their involvement in any illegal acts.

Measures for polls

Jahangir said CCTV cameras will be installed in all risky polling stations and that effective monitoring measures will be taken to ensure security during the election.

He also stressed the need for an adequate number of body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies and officials on election duty.

The meeting also suggested strengthening patrolling and intelligence surveillance by law enforcement agencies so that law and order does not deteriorate in the election, he said.

The adviser said they also stressed the need for completing the training of law enforcement agencies quickly.

As many as 1.5 lakh police personnel, 5.85 lakh Ansar personnel and 33,000 BGB personnel will be given electoral training for the peaceful holding of the upcoming election, he said.

He said 80,000 members of the armed forces will be deployed during the next election.

The adviser said they asked for necessary measures to ensure that law and order does not deteriorate due to the delimitation of boundaries in the polls.

Law and order

Jahangir also said the fascist Awami League's sudden processions have decreased significantly compared to the previous ones. 

The situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is now good and law and order there is under control, he said.

The fascists and their cohorts tried to hatch various conspiracies to disrupt the peaceful celebrations of the Durga Puja festival, he mentioned.

"Some fascist intellectuals also fuelled this. But the active role of the law enforcement agencies foiled their plot," he added.

Moreover, a zero-tolerance policy has been adopted to stamp out the drug menace from society, he said.

"We have asked [officials] to arrest not only the carriers but also the godfathers of drugs and bring them under the law," the adviser added.