Staff Reporter :
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has hinted that the Bangladesh Army will remain deployed with magistracy powers throughout the upcoming national election period.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Secretariat on Tuesday (4 November), the adviser made it clear that there is no plan to withdraw the military before the polls.
When asked whether the army deployment would end prior to the election, Jahangir replied, “Why would it stop? Are we stopping it? Ask again when the election comes.”
He also issued a strong warning that any law enforcement officer found negligent or biased in performing election duties would face immediate disciplinary and legal action.
“If any police officer shows negligence or acts unfairly, they will be brought under the law and punished without delay,” he stated.
The adviser expressed confidence that the upcoming polls, expected to be held in February, would take place in a free, fair, and festive atmosphere.
Addressing other matters, Jahangir said the formation of a police commission was “not discussed in the meeting,” but assured that “it will happen in due course.”
Earlier, on 1 November, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus directed the chiefs of the three armed services to ensure full security and maintain a peaceful environment during the national election.
The directive came during a meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna with Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.
At that meeting, the service chiefs briefed the chief adviser on their comprehensive election security preparations.
According to the plan, around 90,000 army personnel, 2,500 naval personnel, and 1,500 air force members will be deployed across the country, with one army service company stationed in each upazila.
In September, the government extended the executive magistracy powers of commissioned army officers for another 60 days and later granted similar powers to officers of the navy and air force from 30 September 2024.
The tenure of these powers has since been regularly renewed in 60-day intervals.
During the briefing, Adviser Jahangir also discussed the recent incident of missing firearms following a fire at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
“A committee has already been formed to investigate the matter,” he said, adding that it was too early to confirm whether the weapons were stolen. “If theft is confirmed, those responsible will be brought under the law.”
He noted that the exact number of missing weapons has yet to be determined and acknowledged that some of the weapons looted during the previous government’s tenure remain unrecovered.
When asked whether a case had been filed over the airport fire, he clarified, “A general diary is filed after every such incident.”
The adviser also urged journalists to counter misinformation circulating on social media.
“Many provocative statements online are false. Journalists’ words carry credibility-so please report verified information and contact the authorities if in doubt,” he said.
He added that most misleading content originates from abroad, though some local individuals have also been identified and brought under the law.
Jahangir further informed that the e-gates at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have been reopened and that minor technical issues are being resolved.
The adviser also mentioned that the government is making efforts to repatriate fugitive police officers who fled abroad following the July 2024 Uprising.
“We are contacting countries with which Bangladesh has extradition treaties to bring them back,” he said, urging the media to continue following the issue closely.
