Election to be held in time announced by CA: Home Adviser
NN Online:
Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has reiterated that the upcoming national election will be held strictly on the date announced by the Chief Adviser, dismissing speculation and demands from political parties for a change.
He said: “There is no scope for anyone to question what the Chief Adviser has declared. The election will take place on the date he has announced. Whatever month he has specified, the polls will be held in that month. What others say does not matter.”
The adviser made the remarks while speaking to reporters after inspecting Mohammadpur Krishi Market in Dhaka on Saturday (August 16).
In response to claims by some political groups that elections will not be held in February, the adviser stressed that the authority rests with the people: “When the public is ready to vote, no force will be able to obstruct the election. State power ultimately lies with the people.”
Turning to market conditions, he noted that recent floods and heavy rainfall had damaged vegetables, pushing prices up, while potato prices had fallen abnormally low.
“If farmers do not get fair prices, they may be discouraged from cultivating potatoes in the next season, which could lead to sudden price hikes in the future. A balance must be maintained for the benefit of both farmers and consumers,” he said.
He warned that middlemen were exploiting the situation, inflating prices to the detriment of both producers and buyers: “Farmers are not getting fair value, and consumers are forced to pay higher prices. Addressing this problem requires collective efforts.”
Highlighting environmental concerns, the adviser urged the public to abandon polythene, which he said was damaging soil and blocking water flow.
“Polythene brings no benefits, only harm. We should switch to jute bags,” he said, adding that such a move would not only protect the environment but also support farmers.
“Jute once had high demand, but farmers today are struggling to secure fair prices. Wider use of jute bags would benefit farmers, safeguard the environment, and provide a healthier alternative,” he said.