Ensure order at any cost before polls: CA Yunus to law enforcement agencies

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has directed law enforcement agencies to maintain normal law and order at any cost ahead of the upcoming national election. 

"The law and order situation must be kept normal at any cost before the upcoming national election," he said, while reviewing the country's overall security situation at a high-level meeting in Dhaka yesterday (21 December).

According to a statement from the CA's Press Wing, the meeting was held at the state guest house Jamuna under the chairmanship of Prof Yunus.

Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, and senior officials of various security and law enforcement agencies attended the meeting.

Issues discussed included preparations for the return of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and security measures for the upcoming Christmas and English New Year celebrations.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the investigation into the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, who was an aspiring candidate in the Dhaka-8 constituency.

The chief adviser instructed authorities to ensure the swift arrest of those involved in the killing and in other illegal activities.

Police informed the meeting that 31 people had been identified by analysing video footage in connection with recent attacks on the offices of two national dailies and two cultural organisations.

So far, six people — Md Kashem Faruqi, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naim, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shafiqul Islam — have been arrested in raids in different parts of the country, including Dhaka. Operations are continuing to arrest the remaining suspects.

Police also reported that three people had been identified for attempting to create chaos near the residence of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chattogram.