Law and order situation in Bangladesh remains peaceful: EC secretary

Election Commission Secretariat Secretary Md Jahangir Alam today said the current law and order situation in the country remains peaceful.

He made the remarks while replying to a question from reporters after a meeting with the leaders of Sampriti Bangladesh today.

At the meeting, the organization demanded the EC take steps so that the anti-liberation forces could not participate in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections.

The leaders of the organization also called for ensuring the safety of religious minorities.

When asked about the concerns of minorities regarding potential violence at the polls, the EC secretary responded that only those who have such fears can voice them.

"The commission would like to emphasize that, in its view, the law and order situation in Bangladesh is currently peaceful," he added.

The commission believes there has been no situation to worry about yet, the EC secretary said. "If any situation arises at a later time, the Election Commission will take steps according to the law."

At the meeting, the leaders of Sampriti Bangladesh presented four demands to the commission.

The written demands include taking measures to stop religion-based propaganda and the communal provocations incited by those propaganda, taking effective role to prevent anti-liberation forces from participating in the upcoming elections, ensuring the safety of religious minorities and general voters, and identifying areas at risk of minority persecution and taking adequate and necessary measures to prevent pre-election, election-time, and post-election violence.

Regarding the demands, the commission assured them to take action on those proposals according to the law.

A 13-member delegation, including Sampriti Bangladesh President Pijush Bandyopadhyay, attended the meeting.

On behalf of the EC, some commissioners and senior officials including the EC secretary participated in the meeting.