Preparations for the upcoming national election are now complete, says the Home Adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday that all preparations for the upcoming national parliamentary elections are now in place.

Speaking to reporters after the 17th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on law and order at the Secretariat, he said preparations include training law enforcement personnel, purchasing body-worn cameras, and ensuring uninterrupted electricity at every polling station, UNB reports.

“Training is crucial to effectively execute any plan. There is no alternative to proper training. We are continuing training programmes for law enforcement agencies to ensure a free, fair, safe, and credible election. These will be completed by January,” he said.

He added that voting hours have been extended by one hour this year—from 7:30am to 4:30pm—which means vote counting will continue after sunset. For this reason, arrangements are being made to guarantee uninterrupted power supply at polling centres.

Responding to a query about the killing of a police officer’s parents in Rangpur, the adviser said instructions have been issued to apprehend the culprits swiftly and bring them to justice.

On the recovery of looted firearms, Jahangir Alam said the process is ongoing.

Asked about ensuring a level playing field, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to holding a free and fair election.

Addressing an allegation raised by the Jatiya Party, he said, “That is not accurate—there are internal disputes within the party.”