Desk Report:
Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has instructed election officials and law enforcement officers to prioritize public safety and welfare in the upcoming national elections.
The advisor gave this instruction as the chief guest at a law and order exchange meeting organized by the Rajshahi Divisional Administration on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) afternoon at the Rajshahi Prison Training Center auditorium to conduct the ‘Thirteenth National Parliament Election and Referendum-2026’ smoothly.
The event, chaired by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nasimul Ghani, was addressed as special guests by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui ndc psc, RAB (SIF) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman BPM, and Bangladesh Police Additional IGP (Crime and Ops) Khandaker Rafiqul Islam BPM. Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr. ANM Bazlur Rashid delivered the welcome speech at the exchange of views. Rajshahi Range DIG Mohammad Shahjahan PPM (Bar) and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman were present, among others.
The chief guest said to the officials and members of the law enforcement agencies engaged in the election that everyone should perform their duties with complete impartiality in the national election. No one should be involved in implementing any individual, party, or political agenda. The advisor said that the election should be conducted with priority given to laws, rules, public safety, public service and public welfare. He said that honesty, efficiency and professionalism will be the main strength of this election. Strict action will be taken against those who act unethically in the election, act unjustly due to greed, avoid responsibility, neglect their duties. Similarly, one should completely refrain from accepting any kind of money or any other facilities from the candidates or their representatives. Even no food should be accepted.
The advisor said to the returning and assistant returning officers that each polling station, including the voting booth, should be kept clean and prepared in a manner suitable for the election environment. Necessary measures should be taken to ensure that the main road leading to the polling station is smooth and suitable for transportation. He said that it should be ensured that the security of the election equipment including the ballot boxes is ensured and that they reach the polling station on time. In short, all necessary cooperation and logistical support related to the elections must be ensured.
Expressing optimism about a fair election in the president’s speech, Home Secretary Nasimul Gani said, the 2024 popular uprising has turned the corner of our history, providing an opportunity to build a new Bangladesh free of discrimination and harmonious. He said, it is our moral responsibility as state employees to perform our duties with honesty, efficiency and sincerity. Whoever evades in the performance of his duties will be responsible to his own conscience as well as to the people. The Senior Secretary expressed optimism that a free, fair, impartial and festive election will be presented with the combined efforts of all concerned.
All the Deputy Commissioners of Rajshahi Division, Superintendents of Police, Upazila Executive Officers, Regional/District/Upazila Election Officers and Officers-in-Charge of Police Stations of Rajshahi Division, representatives of the Armed Forces Division and BGB of Rajshahi Division, and all Deputy Police Commissioners and Officers-in-Charge of Police Stations of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police participated in the meeting.
Later, in a briefing to journalists, the Home Affairs Advisor said that like Khulna Division, the election preparations of Rajshahi Division are also good. In response to a question from journalists about election violence, he said that except for one or two isolated incidents, election violence is much less compared to other times. The election environment is beautiful and good. He also said that the highest number of about 0.9 lakh law enforcement personnel have been deployed in this election. Of these, Bangladesh Army has 1 lakh, Bangladesh Navy has 5 thousand, Bangladesh Air Force has 3 thousand 730 (land force-1 thousand 250), Bangladesh Police has 1 lakh 49 thousand 443, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force has 5 lakh 76 thousand 314, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has 37 thousand 453, Bangladesh Coast Guard has 3 thousand 585, RAB has 7 thousand 700, and as a support service, Fire Service and Civil Defense Department has 13 thousand 390 members. All in all, we are hopeful for a free, fair, acceptable and festive election ceremony.
