Staff Reporter :
Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that security forces were fully prepared ahead of Monday’s long-awaited verdict in the crimes against humanity case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others, linked to the July Uprising.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday at the Barishal District Police Lines after a meeting with senior officials from the field administration and law enforcement agencies, he said the verdict remains unknown, but whatever the tribunal decides “will be implemented, and the public will accept it”.
He stressed that all branches of the security apparatus have been placed on heightened alert around the capital and elsewhere to prevent any untoward incident. “Law enforcement agencies are completely ready,” he said.
Jahangir described the current law and order situation as “satisfactory”, noting that while conditions are neither exceptionally good nor dangerously bad, the forces are fully prepared to prevent any disruption.
“I would not say that the law and order situation is very good, or very bad. It is satisfactory. The law enforcers are completely ready to prevent anarchy,” he added.
Turning to the upcoming general election, the Home Adviser said the field administration has already taken comprehensive preparations to ensure a free, fair and festive national vote.
But he pointed out that the responsibility does not lie with the administration alone.
“Elections don’t depend only on law enforcement or the administration. The Election Commission, political parties and, most importantly, the people all play a role,” he said.
“If the people become election-oriented, nothing can halt the process. The fact that political parties and the media are already election-focused is a positive sign,” he added.
He also noted that some political parties have begun announcing their candidates in different constituencies, which he described as another encouraging development.
Addressing the recent clashes between transport workers and students over bus fares at Barishal’s Nathullabad bus terminal, Jahangir said the dispute had emerged between the two sides and they were attempting to resolve it on their own.
He added that law enforcement has been instructed to act according to the law and remain alert to prevent a recurrence.
“Such incidents should not happen again. Both sides should sit together and move towards a solution,” he said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Monjur Morshed Alam, Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam and Superintendent of Police Sharif Uddin were among the senior officials present at the meeting.
