Dhaka: Reiterating that the national election must be held within the first half of February next year, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today said 'no force on earth' can obstruct it. 'The government is taking all necessary preparations to ensure a free, fair, and festive election,' he said at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the press secretary addressed questions regarding the law and order situation, noting that since August 5, 2024, nearly 1,600 protests and demonstrations have taken place across the country, averaging four per day. Of these, about 600 were related to the Ministry of Education. Shafiqul Alam highlighted that after years of repression, people's expectations are now being expressed in a democratic environment through different demands. The government and law enforcement agencies are handling these situations with patience and tolerance, he emphasized.
On the topic of the July Charter, the press secretary mentioned that consensus has been reached on most of the issues during the discussions of the National Consensus Commission. He praised the political parties for their patience and maturity, expressing hope that the July Charter would be finalized on time.
Addressing the incident at Nurul Pagla's shrine in Rajbari, Shafiqul Alam clarified that there was no negligence by the local administration or law enforcement agencies. He explained that the administration had previously held meetings with the local 'Iman O Aqida Rokkha Committee' and granted permission for peaceful demonstrations, but the group later became unruly, leading to the 'vile incident.' Seven people have been arrested following video footage analysis, and the investigation is ongoing. 'Everyone found involved in this incident will be brought under the law,' he affirmed.
Deputy press secretaries to the Chief Adviser, Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Apurba Jahangir, were present at the briefing.