Polls will be held on time: Home adviser

FE REPORT
Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury reiterated on Monday that the upcoming national election will be held on time.
He also warned that there will be no leniency for activities that disrupt the polls process.
"We (the interim government) are firmly committed to ensuring peace, public order and a secure environment ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections," he told the media at a press briefing following the 19th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the Ministry of Home Affairs at Bangladesh Secretariat.
"We are firmly committed to maintaining peace and public order. The highest priority has been given to keep the law and order situation stable and undisrupted, particularly taking the forthcoming elections into consideration." He said all law enforcement agencies have been instructed to operate with heightened vigilance and close coordination at the field level throughout the election period.
Mr Chowdhury further said that the law enforcement agencies will be empowered to enter any place, including polling centres, at any time to prevent disorder or election-related violence.
He urged political parties to remain alert so that saboteurs or "fascist agents" disguised as collaborators could not infiltrate their ranks.
The home adviser also said the nationwide intelligence surveillance has been strengthened with enhanced coordination and data sharing among all forces.
The meeting reviewed overall law and order, election security preparations, progress in major criminal cases, Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, recovery of illegal arms, anti-drug operations, and the situation in border areas and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The home adviser has warned that immediate action-with no concessions-will be launched against road blockades that cause public suffering.
Regarding the murder of July uprising frontline fighter Sharif Osman bin Hadi, he said the charge sheet of a case filed in connection will be submitted on Jan 7.
"So far, 11 people have been arrested and the case will be transferred to a speedy trial tribunal to ensure justice within the tenure of the interim government."
He said that a total of 14,569 people have been arrested as of January 4 under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 -- launched on December 13, last year.
Overall arrests in the same period stand at 33,804, including 19,235 accused in cases and warrants. Authorities have recovered firearms, ammunition, grenades, explosives, and bomb-making materials during the operation.
The home adviser also reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy toward communal disharmony-stressing the prevention of rumors, social media propaganda, and provocative statements.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com