Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Friday reaffirmed that the national parliamentary elections will take place in February next year, dismissing attempts by certain groups to create confusion about the schedule.
“There is no scope for confusion regarding the election.
It must be held in the first half of February,” he said while exchanging views with journalists at the Netrakona Circuit House yesterday.
Alam alleged that those spreading uncertainty over the electoral process were aligned with the ousted autocratic regime. “If you observe closely, you will find that those trying to obstruct the election were allies of the fallen autocratic government.
Some of them might have received plots in Purbachal or enjoyed monetary benefits under that regime,” he remarked.
Turning to the issue of media and reforms, the press secretary commended journalists for their tireless work but lamented the exploitation of rural reporters.
“Journalists work hard day and night to collect and prepare news, and that’s what keeps television channels running.
The owners use your footage on air and across social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook all year round and earn money. Yet rural journalists receive no recognition or payment,” he said.
He added that rural journalists are often handed an ID card and told to “go and earn,” urging them to raise their voices for fair treatment and recognition.
During his visit, Alam also met with students of ITS Netrakona on the Circuit House premises, where they submitted a memorandum demanding various reforms. He assured them that their demands would be conveyed to the relevant authorities.
Later, the press secretary paid tribute to the martyrs of the July 2024 Uprising by placing a wreath at the July Memorial in Moktarpara.
Netrakona Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah Al Mahmud Zaman and Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayem Mahmud accompanied him during the visit.
