No one will get away with election irregularities: Home Adviser

Home affairs adviser Lieutenant General (retired) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has issued a stern warning that no form of irregularities or disorder will be tolerated in the thirteenth national parliamentary election.

He said anyone involved in election irregularities will face immediate action.

The adviser made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a divisional law and order coordination meeting at Barishal Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Monday, February 2.

He said allegations by some candidates about biased behaviour by the administration were mainly political statements aimed at attracting voters.

“The administration is working in a completely neutral manner. Political statements will come politically, but the administration will not deviate an inch from its responsibility,” he said.

To maintain overall law and order during the election, he said a large number of security personnel will be deployed nationwide, including around 100,000 army members, 150,000 police personnel, 37,000 BGB members, 10,000 RAB members, 5,000 navy personnel, 5,000 coast guard members and nearly 600,000 Ansar members.

He added that the presence of the navy and coast guard has been strengthened further in coastal areas.

The adviser said all preparations have been completed to ensure a peaceful election and urged everyone to work together to maintain law and order.

He also said new technologies and management systems are being introduced in this election, including deployment of BNCC members, use of body cameras by security forces, and surveillance of polling centres and surrounding areas through CCTV cameras and drones.

“No one will get away after committing crimes. Everything will be monitored through technology,” he said.

Expressing optimism, he said large religious festivals had earlier been held peacefully using the Suraksha app, and the upcoming national election would also be peaceful.

The meeting was chaired by senior home secretary Nasimul Gani and attended by Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, Coast Guard director general Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque, Barishal divisional commissioner Md Mahfuzur Rahman, district administrators of six districts and senior officials of various law enforcement agencies.