Desk Report:
Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has instructed the election officials and law enforcement officers to perform their duties with honesty, sincerity and sincerity, keeping in mind the tragic consequences of fascism.
The advisor gave this instruction as the chief guest at a law and order exchange meeting organized by the Khulna Divisional Administration on Wednesday (February 04, 2026) at the conference room of the Khulna Divisional Commissioner’s Office for the smooth conduct of the ‘Thirteenth National Parliament Election and Referendum-2026’.
The event was chaired by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nasimul Ghani. BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui ndc psc, RAB (SIF) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman BPM, Bangladesh Police Additional IGP (Crime and Ops) Khandaker Rafiqul Islam BPM spoke as special guests. Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md. Mokhtar Ahmed delivered the welcome speech at the exchange of views. Khulna Range DIG Md. Rezaul Haque PPM and Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Hasan were present, among others.
The chief guest said that the seeds of fascism were sown in the past 16 years through an opaque election process. The entire state machinery participated in this process through bias. Every structure from national elections to local government elections was completely destroyed. People’s voting rights were taken away in a dictatorial process. As a result, dictatorship, autocracy, and fascist structures were established. The advisor said that the students staged a mass uprising in 2024 to free themselves from fascism. He said that some of the supporters, instigators, partisans, supporters, and direct participants of this process were known to many. They were part of the government apparatus. Today, everyone is aware of the tragic fate of many of them. Many have been fired, many are fugitives, exiled, in jail, and are facing the law and courts. Even their families and relatives are going through difficult tests today. He expressed hope that everyone concerned will understand the matter deeply and fulfill their responsibilities properly in the upcoming national elections on February 12.
Addressing the officials and members of the law enforcement agencies engaged in the elections, the advisor said that the expectations of the entire people of this country, including political parties, are high. The biggest responsibility lies on your shoulders to fulfill those expectations. He said that with the cooperation of all those involved in the election, a standard will be set in the upcoming national election, which will be appreciated not only in the country but also in the international arena. The advisor urged the officials to be vigilant and alert so that the slightest mistake or deviation does not ruin the image of the election and the country and does not lose the trust of the people. Moreover, he warned that action will be taken against the concerned Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer, Presiding Officer and all those involved in case of irregularities or ballot box snatching at any polling station.
Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) said that a ‘Central Law and Order Coordination Cell’ has already been formed in the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor the overall situation of the election. Any complaint related to law and order during the election can be made to this cell. He said that representatives of the law and order forces will be present in this coordination cell. Through this, immediate exchange of information at every moment at the field level must be ensured, so that any emerging situation can be dealt with quickly.
The Home Affairs Advisor said that the most effective role in controlling law and order in this election will be played by the use of the ‘Election Protection App-2026’, which has been prepared by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC). Various law enforcement agencies, returning officers, assistant returning officers and the central control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs will be linked to it. The Advisor said that the app will play a role in immediately receiving complaints related to law and order and its quick redressal/control.
The Advisor also said that the issue of entry passes to election observers should be completed quickly and their free entry to the polling stations should be ensured. He said that the issue of identity cards to journalists should be ensured quickly. They can ask for various information about the election and the concerned polling stations. They should be provided full cooperation in this regard. He also said that the law and order situation and environment on the election day should be improved so that everyone can go to the polling stations and vote in a joyful and festive atmosphere.
In his speech as the president, Home Secretary Nasimul Gani said,
The officials and members of the law enforcement agencies engaged in the election must perform their duties with honesty, efficiency and sincerity, above temptation. He said, we must ensure a ‘steel frame of bureaucracy’ so that no one can neglect or evade their duties. He also said, since independence, our economic condition has improved a lot. Most of the officials are receiving foreign tours and advanced training. It is our moral responsibility as state employees to provide a fair, beautiful, free, impartial, peaceful and festive election out of our responsibility to the state.
All the Deputy Commissioners of Khulna Division, Superintendents of Police, Upazila Executive Officers, Regional/District/Upazila Election Officers and Officers-in-Charge of Police Stations of Khulna Division, representatives of the Armed Forces Division and BGB of Khulna Division, and all Deputy Police Commissioners and Officers-in-Charge of Police Stations of Khulna Metropolitan Police participated in the meeting.
Later, in a briefing to journalists, the Home Affairs Advisor said that the election preparations of Khulna Division are good. Urging journalists to present true and objective news, he said that presenting misinformation or false news can disrupt the voting environment. He further said that three of these issues will play an important role in making the election fair, which was not possible in previous elections. They are the use of election information technology (body worn cameras, CCTV, drones, etc.), training of law enforcement agencies and the use of the ‘Election Protection App-2026’ developed by NTMC. The advisor expressed optimism that through the successful application and implementation of these, it will be possible to deliver a free, fair, impartial and festive election.
