Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today spoke to journalists after holding a meeting titled “Law and Order Issues for the Proper Conduct of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum–2026” at the Rajshahi Jail Training Academy Auditorium. Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, Feb 4, 2026 (BSS) - Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said unprecedented security measures have been taken across the country centering the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum.

He assured that this year’s election will be completely fear-free, neutral, and festive.

He made the remark while responding to a question from journalists after holding a meeting titled “Law and Order Issues for the Proper Conduct of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum–2026” at the Rajshahi Jail Training Academy Auditorium here this afternoon as chief guest.

All the election-related officials from Rajshahi city and from all eight districts under the Rajshahi Division joined the meeting.

Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said there is no concern regarding the election in this region. The maximum number of law-enforcement personnel will be deployed in this election, and the forces will remain in the field for seven days before and after the election.
 
He has instructed district commissioners to detain suspected troublemakers. “There is no such thing as mob violence, and there is no fear among the police,” said the Home Affairs Adviser.
 
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani presided over the meeting.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr Mohammad Shahjahan and Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Dr Zillur Rahman, among others, also spoke.

Regarding election preparations, the adviser said, “The preparations are very good. CCTV cameras have been installed at almost all centres. At one or two centres where there are no boundary walls, arrangements will be made with bamboo fencing. Their preparation is very good. The election will be held very peacefully.”

Addressing concerns about illegal arms, he said, “I have been saying this repeatedly—illegal arms are being recovered regularly. The election will be very peaceful and will be festive in nature. It will be peaceful.”

He also informed that 100,000 members of the Bangladesh Army will be deployed nationwide during the election. In addition, 5,000 members of the Navy, 37,000 of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 4,000 of the Coast Guard, 150,000 police personnel, 9,000 members of RAB, and more than 500,000 members of the Ansar force will be on duty.