Staff Reporter :
The government has warned that any group taking to the streets with demands following the announcement of the election schedule will face firm action, signaling a sharper stance as Bangladesh enters its final stretch toward the February 12 national polls.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam issued the warning on Thursday at a press briefing held after a meeting of the Advisory Council at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. He said the interim administration had shown “considerable patience” over the past 16 months, during which nearly 2,000 movements took place across the country — all of which, he noted, were handled peacefully.
“But once the election schedule has been announced, if any group goes to the streets with demands or agitation, strict measures will be taken,” Shafiqul said, underscoring the government’s intent to prevent unrest during the election period.
He clarified that the 13th national election will be held under the authority of the current Advisory Council and will be conducted peacefully. The government, he added, has no plan to introduce any new laws relating to the election itself.
However, the press secretary confirmed that the government is considering new legislation to curb online and AI-driven fraud schemes, which have surged with the widespread use of artificial intelligence technologies. “With the arrival of AI, fraud has increased so dramatically that it can be called an ocean of deception,” Shafiqul said.
The chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, has also instructed officials to draft a separate law to prevent visa fraud, a growing problem that has tarnished Bangladesh’s reputation abroad and left citizens vulnerable to exploitation.
“A major syndicate is deceiving people with visa scams,” Shafiqul said, adding that the upcoming law will include clear punitive measures for those using online systems or AI tools to commit fraud.
He said the law would be prepared on an urgent basis to curb the rising wave of digital deception and protect Bangladeshis from increasingly sophisticated schemes.
