Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that lost weapons can never be fully recovered, though efforts are ongoing to retrieve looted and illegal arms.
He also reiterated that he has no need for a “safe exit” from the country, saying, “Where would I go? My wife and children live in Bangladesh.”
The adviser made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a Law and Order Core Committee meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon.
Regarding the upcoming national election, Chowdhury said the meeting focused on ensuring a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful election, and on measures to prevent any attempt to destabilize the process.
He emphasized that while every effort is being made to recover looted weapons, some firearms inevitably remain unaccounted for. “This will not affect election security or create problems for the voting process,” he said.
On questions about army officers accused by the International Crimes Tribunal, he said, “They will be dealt with strictly according to court orders and legal procedures.”
Chowdhury outlined several key decisions from the meeting, including the identification and strict legal action against any individuals or groups attempting to disrupt the electoral process, the formulation of a clear action plan coordinated among all relevant agencies to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections, and instructions for district commissioners, superintendents of police, upazila nirbahi officers, and officers-in-charge to perform their duties impartially. The measures also emphasize ensuring that law enforcement and election officials refrain from any illegal activities, the installation and monitoring of CCTV cameras at all high-risk polling centers, provision of sufficient body-worn cameras for personnel, avoiding the assignment of officials who served in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 national elections in the upcoming polls, and enhanced patrol and intelligence surveillance to prevent any deterioration in law and order.
He added that training for law enforcement personnel is ongoing, with around 150,000 police officers receiving three-day election training across 28 batches in 130 venues nationwide. Training for the first batch of 6,500 personnel has been completed, while another batch of 6,500 is ongoing. The program is expected to be completed by January 15, 2026.
For Ansar and VDP members, approximately 585,000 personnel will receive pre-election training — including 135,000 armed and 450,000 unarmed members — to be completed by mid-January. Ansar Battalion members will also be deployed as striking forces, with 3,157 recruit sepoys currently under training.
In addition, 33,000 BGB personnel in 1,100 platoons will be deployed during the election, with 60% of election training already completed. Around 80,000 armed forces personnel are expected to be deployed nationwide. Measures will also be taken to prevent law and order deterioration during constituency boundary adjustments.
Chowdhury commented on political and regional law and order situations, noting that flash processions by the so-called “fascist Awami League” have decreased. The Chittagong Hill Tracts are reportedly calm and under control. He alleged that some political actors and intellectuals attempted to disrupt the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja, but these efforts were foiled by proactive law enforcement.
He added that zero tolerance has been adopted against drugs, targeting not only traffickers but also ringleaders, who are being arrested and prosecuted. Overall, the adviser said the Durga Puja festival was conducted safely, peacefully, and in a festive atmosphere thanks to coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies.
