Interim govt urges halt to protests after election schedule announcement

Bangladesh’s interim government has urged political groups, activists and the public to refrain from holding unauthorised protests and street gatherings once the timetable for the national election is announced, warning that illegal assemblies will be met with legal action.

The election schedule is expected within days, with the 13th parliamentary polls planned for the first half of February.

At a Ministry of Home Affairs meeting on Tuesday, held under instructions from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, officials outlined plans for what they described as the most extensive security operation in the country’s electoral history.

Nearly 900,000 personnel from the armed forces and law enforcement agencies will be deployed to maintain order, alongside 150,000 police officers trained specifically for election duty — the highest number Bangladesh has mobilised for a vote.

The government says the aim is to deliver a poll that is “free, fair, neutral and festive”, amid intense political activity and public mobilisation over the past months.

But the announcement marks a tightening of restrictions on public demonstrations. Once the schedule is released, any protest or rally lacking official approval may be “strictly controlled”, officials said, signalling little tolerance for disruptions to public life in the run-up to the vote.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury acknowledged widespread grievances, noting that more than 2,000 protests had taken place over the past year and a half, many pushing for reform or accountability.

“The government has responded to just demands and engaged in dialogue,” he said.

“But we are now entering an election period. We urge everyone to bring their demands before the next government.”

He appealed for restraint, warning against actions that could heighten tension or destabilise the pre-election environment.

With the country approaching a decisive political moment, the government’s directive reflects a balancing act between electoral preparation and the management of dissent — a test that observers say will shape public trust in the coming vote.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com