Dhaka: Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today clarified that no mass arrest has been executed concerning the Gopalganj incident. “No mass arrest has been made. Only those who committed crimes are being arrested,” Jahangir stated, addressing journalists’ questions about the Gopalganj situation following a core committee meeting on law and order at the Home Ministry in Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, when queried if the prior practice of mass arrests is being implemented, Jahangir refuted the notion, stating, “The same thing is not happening now. I do not agree with your opinion. Perpetrators must be arrested.” He emphasized that law enforcers should ensure that miscreants are apprehended while innocent individuals remain unharmed. “Make sure no perpetrators are spared in any way,” he asserted.
In response to inquiries about the detention of nine children related to the Gopalganj incident, Jahangir mentioned that he had no such information. Addressing the current status of restrictions, he confirmed that the curfew in Gopalganj has been relaxed and that section 144 would be eased in stages.
Jahangir cited various television reports indicating that the situation in Gopalganj has normalized. When asked about the preparedness of law enforcement agencies to conduct a free, fair, and peaceful election, he assured, “We have enough time to take preparations and we are now taking preparations. We are imparting training for this. There will be no problem.”
The Home Adviser concluded by underscoring the essence of democracy, which he described as the freedom to express ideas and truths without resorting to personal attacks, advocating for the use of respectful language.