No power on earth can stop Feb polls: interim govt

Election to the 13th national parliament will invariably be held next February and full-fledged poll preparations are afoot, the interim government reaffirms on a note of warning against any subversives.

"The election will be held in the first half of February, come what may. No power on earth can stop this election. It will take place, and all necessary preparations are being made for it," the press was told Sunday in a briefing about the outcome of a law-and-order-review meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, said, "The government is working tirelessly to improve the law-and-order situation. You must understand that since 5 August, including protest programmes, around 1,615 incidents have occurred-on average, four incidents or protests every day."

Among these, 600 incidents were related to the Ministry of Education.
"After a revolution, demands naturally emerge, and we are seeing everyone coming out on the streets with their demands. Since the previous government repressed people for 15 years and suppressed such protests, now everyone is bringing forth their demands under this government. The government and the law-enforcement agencies are handling these issues with great patience."

In the wake of recent violent incidents in different parts of the country, the Chief Adviser has directed local administrations to take a tougher stance, the Press Secretary told the journalists.

He said, "The incidents taking place must be dealt with firmly by the local administration. Strict instructions have been given in today's meeting in this regard."

The Press Secretary said emphasis was placed on maintaining "the political unity we had achieved in July. Political parties must continue to foster good relations among themselves, and everyone has been urged to remain cautious so that the security situation does not deteriorate in the run-up to the election. The meeting stressed the need for closer relations among political parties."

The meeting decided that the monitoring of sudden processions and unlawful gatherings must be intensified. Those who are actively behind such activities will face strict legal action.

The head of post-uprising government warns that "various conspiracies may be attempted during the upcoming Durga Puja to create instability".

Last year's Durga Puja was marked by a positive law-and-order experience, and this year that experience should be utilized again, said the Chief Adviser.

He stressed that full security measures must be taken in advance so that no untoward situation arises. "To preserve communal harmony, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been instructed to hold meetings with all religious organisations. The Religious Affairs Adviser will soon be engaging with these organisations."

"It has been decided that the security situation will be continuously monitored. Coordination among security forces will be strengthened, and the administration must remain prepared in advance to handle any situation. Alongside this, the Chief Adviser has instructed the university administration to provide full cooperation so that the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election can take place peacefully and in a festive atmosphere," the Press Secretary said.

"Whenever the fallen, defeated fascist forces see that the country is moving towards elections and that the trial of those involved in the July massacre is progressing rapidly, they become increasingly desperate and reckless," he said, quoted the meeting observations.

"As a result, they are taking to the field with all their strength to destroy peace and order in the country and to obstruct the democratic journey. This is no longer merely a law-and-order issue-it has now become a matter of national security," the government meeting noted.

The meeting made it clear that no leniency will be shown to anyone in the interest of national security. "The government believes that, in the interest of the nation, all political parties must remain united with the people."

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com