Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said steps are being taken to ensure that leaders and activists of the now-banned Awami League and its affiliated bodies cannot easily secure bail.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at the Chattogram Circuit House after a meeting with divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and law enforcement officials, the adviser said, “In Chattogram today—and even in Dhaka—there were rallies. Many of those involved have been brought under the law. Yet even after that, many still manage to get bail. We are working so they can no longer get bail easily.”
The adviser’s remarks came hours after Awami League activists staged a banned rally in Chattogram’s Dampara area, a development reporters raised during the press briefing.
Jahangir Alam said more rallies are likely to occur as the national election approaches but vowed tighter control on unauthorized gatherings beforehand. “During the election there will be many processions, but these small unauthorized rallies won’t be allowed to continue now,” he added.
He also disclosed that the government plans to deploy around 100,000 members of the army, navy, and air force during the 13th parliamentary elections. “Right now about 30,000 troops are in the field. During the election, there will be nearly 100,000 along with the navy and air force. Plus, we have police, BGB, Ansar, Coast Guard, RAB, and the full civil administration,” he said.
The adviser emphasized that elections ultimately depend on the public. “The people are the key factor. If citizens go to the polls, no one can stop them. And if political parties reach consensus, it benefits everyone,” he noted.
On the issue of Rohingya armed groups, Jahangir Alam said Bangladesh remains alert. “Our main goal is to send them back as quickly as possible. The faster we repatriate them, the sooner our problem will be solved,” he said, adding that Myanmar’s border areas are now under Arakan Army control rather than the Myanmar military.
Describing how Myanmar’s internal conflict affects Bangladesh, the adviser—formerly chief of Bangladesh’s Border Guard—said, “The Arakan Army survives on drugs. Large quantities of narcotics flow in, and in exchange rice, fertilizer, medicines, and other goods go from our side. We’re working to stop that.”
He also said some of the weapons looted during the change of government have already been recovered, with more expected before the election. “Law enforcement agencies are well-prepared, and their training has already begun,” he added.
