‘Interim govt begins 2nd phase, focuses on free and fair polls’
Staff Reporter :
The interim government has officially entered the second phase of its transitional governance, with the central objective of organizing a free, fair, and acceptable national election, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters following a key meeting of the Council of Advisers held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, Alam said the government’s post-August 5 roadmap includes election preparation, structural reforms, and high-profile trials.
“The Chief Adviser has already issued necessary instructions to all relevant institutions to move forward with these three priorities,” Alam said.
Alam confirmed that the Chief Adviser’s Office sent a formal letter to the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday, initiating the official election process. He clarified that the EC will now determine the election date and take full responsibility for its implementation.
“Now it is up to the Election Commission to announce the date and ensure a fair and credible election,” he stated.
He added that the government is actively exploring options to engage the police, Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the Army more comprehensively in election-related security measures.
According to Alam, the government is considering deploying an additional 40,000-50,000 law enforcement personnel and 60,000 army personnel during the polls, compared to the 800,000-strong deployment in the previous national election.
Trials and Justice: Hasina in Focus Asked about the trial of deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Alam said the government intends for the trial to be held in her presence.
“We want the trial to be completed while Sheikh Hasina is in the country,” he said. “Our foreign adviser has made it clear that diplomatic efforts are underway to bring her back.”
Citing reports by the BBC and Al Jazeera, Alam said there is documented evidence showing Sheikh Hasina allegedly ordered the shooting of protesters during the 2024 uprising.
“These reports show clearly how she gave the shoot-to-kill order. Her trial will proceed on the basis of this evidence,” he added.
The Council of Advisers meeting also reviewed several administrative and economic updates.
The meeting expressed gratitude to the Commerce Adviser for successfully negotiating a tariff reduction with the United States, and to the Cultural Affairs Adviser for organising national commemorations of the July Uprising.
The interim government reported a substantial improvement in national food security. At the time of the previous government’s removal, national food stock stood at 1.8 million tonnes; it has since increased to 2.1 million tonnes.
Alam also noted that law and order across the country has significantly improved over the past year, largely due to the deployment of the armed forces with magistracy powers, a policy initiated early in the interim administration’s tenure.
The Council also approved the renaming of Gazipur Digital University to Gazipur Frontier Technology University, following longstanding public demand. The draft of the Gazipur Digital University (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 received final approval pending legislative vetting.
In economic terms, Alam said that the interim government has paid off $4 billion in foreign debt while increasing the country’s foreign currency reserves.
Since taking office in August 2024, the interim government has made 315 executive decisions, of which 247 have already been implemented. This constitutes a 78.41 percent implementation rate, which Alam described as the highest recorded by any Bangladeshi government since independence.