STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury yesterday warned that the government would take strict departmental and legal action if evidence is found that anyone engaged in election duty worked in favour of any candidate or sought to implement any party agenda.

He said honesty, efficiency and professionalism would be the defining features of the 13th national parliamentary election, and instructed officials and law enforcement members deployed on election duty to perform their responsibilities with complete integrity.

The adviser made the remarks as the chief guest at a law and order exchange meeting at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh, organised by the home ministry and the Dhaka divisional commissioner’s office to ensure the smooth conduct of the 13th national parliamentary election and the 2026 referendum.

Jahangir said government employees are not members of any political party, but salaried state officials appointed with taxpayers’ money. “Therefore, even the slightest bias or biased behaviour towards any political party will not be tolerated,” he said.

The adviser also instructed election-duty officials to strictly refrain from accepting any money or other benefits from candidates or their representatives. “Even food cannot be accepted,” he said.

Addressing officials and law enforcement personnel deployed for election duty, he said no one should be allowed to violate the law during the election. “If anyone engages in unlawful acts, they must be brought under the law,” he said.

“Neutrality must be reflected in speech, actions, behaviour, announcements and implementation,” he added.

Home Ministry Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani chaired the meeting.

Inspector General of Police Baharul BPM, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali and Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharafuddin Ahmed spoke as special guests.