Candidates can issue licences for personal firearms: Home Adviser

Home Adviser Lieutenant General, retd, Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that candidates wishing to contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election may be granted licences to use personal firearms if they so desire.

He shared the information with journalists after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Home Ministry conference room at the Secretariat on Saturday afternoon.

He said the government has taken special security measures following the recent attack on independent candidate and Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi. In particular, additional security will be ensured for frontline July fighters, and a committee has been formed for this purpose, he added.

Regarding the attack on Hadi, the Home Adviser said the terrorist involved has already been identified and a reward of Tk 5 million has been announced for information leading to his arrest. He warned that no leniency would be shown towards those involved and said law enforcement agencies have been instructed to arrest the perpetrators quickly and bring them to justice.

He further said the attack on Osman Hadi was an attempt to disrupt the national election and warned that any attempt to sabotage the election would be dealt with strictly.

Responding to a question from journalists about the security of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, he said there is no concern regarding his safety and the government will ensure all necessary security measures as required.