Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the Chief Adviser, addressed reporters at the sidelines of the State Guest House Jamuna. BSS
The top adviser to the Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, made it clear today that the national election would be held in the first half of next February in a joyous and tranquil environment, overcoming all kinds of impediments of election opponents.
He was speaking at a discussion with leaders of seven political parties and an organisation at the State Guest House Jamuna in the city at 5 pm.
Political parties and organisations: Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Nagorik Oikya, Gonosonghoti Andolon, Gano Odhikar Parishad, LDP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jatiya Gano Front, and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
After the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam addressed the press in front of the Jamuna.
Citing the Chief Adviser, the press secretary said: “The election will be held in a festive and joyful environment. This election is finally supposed to be a good experience for those who’ve never been able to cast a ballot before. Even if someone was not quite comfortable with voting earlier this time, that person also should come back and say, for once, everyone should have had a good experience, so no one can say, ‘I was not allowed to vote. ’
Prof. Yunus said that some quarters do not want the election to take place while the caretaker government is in office, and they would try in any way to create a barrier.
“Some are already showing, and others may show up. That’s why we need to be more vigilant. We aim to hold the polls. Oh, and the elections will be in the first half of next February. We will transfer power to an elected government,” Shafiqul Alam quoted the Chief Adviser as saying at the meeting.
Inviting cooperation from all parties to hold the polls, Professor Yunus said, “The election is very special. It is the election of not only the caretaker government but of all the people and all the political parties of the country. “This poll aims to construct the golden future of Bangladesh.
Another quote: “It will be an election of standing on our own feet, gaining courage and running the country with our own confidence. Every individual and their family members must be encouraged to flock to the polling centres, and they should remember the experience as a festival for generations. We expect your full cooperation in organising the polls.”
Warning that obstacles could arise at every turn, the leader of the interim government said, “There will be attempts to cause confusion and division. We need to be strict and tough, and also to help one another.”
Shafiqul Alam said the Chief Adviser also appealed to the political parties to keep an eye on each other during the upcoming month-long Durga Puja, so that it would not be interrupted by anyone.
“It is our duty to make sure that peace prevails in the entire country. We would have needed to have been on the lookout: There will always be efforts to foment chaos, but noise cannot lead us astray. Even this year, Durga Puja will be celebrated with festivity and peace,” said Professor Yunus.
After the meeting with the political parties, the press secretary told the Daily Star that President of Gano Odhikar Parishad (Nation’s Rights Council) Nurul Haque Nur, ‘s wife Maria Akter, Gano Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan and senior joint secretary general of the organisation Hasan Al Mamun called on the Chief Adviser at the venue.
In the meeting, Shafiqul Alam stated that Professor Yunun instructed the officials of the Health Ministry to arrange Nur’s treatment abroad urgently.
Nur’s wife and other politicians joined the two advisers at the meeting. Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan are among the advisers present at the meeting with Nur’s wife and fellow politicians.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul informed the meeting that a one-member judicial probe committee, under the chairmanship of Justice Ali Reza, was being constituted. The gazette notification will be issued by tomorrow, and the committee is expected to give its report within 15 days, he added.