Staff Reporter :
Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Shafiqul Alam, reaffirmed that the parliamentary poll would be held within the designated timeframe announced by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, without any delay.
Speaking to journalists after attending the ‘TEDx Cumilla University’ event at the Mainamoti auditorium of the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) in Kotbari, Cumilla on Saturday, Shafiqul Alam assured, “The election won’t be delayed even by a single day.”
He stressed that there is no uncertainty surrounding the upcoming polls.
“You will witness a peaceful election conducted in a beautiful and fair environment. The current government will present the best election in the history of Bangladesh,” he stated.
Highlighting the Chief Adviser’s firm stance, Shafiqul said Prof Muhammad Yunus has repeatedly emphasised the commitment to a timely and fair election.
“Equal opportunities will be ensured for all candidates, and a level playing field will be created so that no one can claim unfair treatment,” he said.
Addressing ongoing discussions on the Proportional Representation (PR) system, he mentioned that talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties have made significant progress.
“Consensus has already been reached on eight key issues. Discussions are ongoing on seven more issues. Three issues are yet to be formally discussed. We believe good decisions will emerge on all matters,” he noted.
On the law and order situation, Shafiqul Alam affirmed the government’s swift and effective response to crimes.
“In every case, perpetrators are brought to justice, and especially in sensitive cases like rape, the government is ensuring prompt trials,” he said.
When asked about speculation regarding the separation of Gopalganj, Shafiqul dismissed any such move.
“The people of Gopalganj are equal citizens of Bangladesh. This government does not discriminate against any district or group,” he asserted.
He also responded to allegations of human rights violations in Gopalganj, urging journalists to visit the area and assess the ground reality themselves.
“No innocent person will be harassed. Anyone making such claims should see the situation firsthand,” he added.
On the possibility of declaring the “July Charter” on August 5, he said that while a final decision hasn’t been made, the government is working diligently to reach consensus among political parties.
“Political settlements often take years in other countries. But our parties are in constant dialogue, and we’re hopeful about a unified announcement,” he stated.
Acknowledging the vital role of youth in the recent “July Revolution,” Shafiqul Alam praised their peaceful activism.
“Young people achieved what adults could not. Their form of protest-like writing ‘Natok Kom Koro PO’-was powerful yet non-aggressive. They demanded reforms and also demonstrated how to implement them,” he said.
He pointed out that youth in Bangladesh were long deprived of their voting rights but are now showing great enthusiasm about participating in the upcoming election.
