The national election will be held before 15 February, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. 

He said the Chief Adviser will take the final decision regarding the referendum issue, but regardless of that decision, the election will not be delayed.

The election will be held before 15 February. No power exists that can postpone it,” he asserted.

He made the remarks on Friday (31 October) while speaking as the chief guest at the closing and award-giving ceremony of the ‘Mindbridge and Knowledge Competition’, organised by July Konna Foundation at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU).

Speaking to journalists after the event, the Press Secretary said, “Various political parties are expressing their opinions. We do not consider these as threats. The Chief Adviser will do whatever is most appropriate.”

Regarding the issue of recovering illegal arms ahead of the election, Shafiqul Alam said, “The Chief Adviser is working on this matter. You have seen that some weapons were recovered last week. A report on this is being prepared every month.”

On the trial of Sheikh Hasina, he said, “The government is working on it. The court will announce the date for Sheikh Hasina’s trial on 13 November.”

Highlighting the contribution of women during the 2024 mass uprising, the Press Secretary said, “Both men and women stood shoulder to shoulder on the streets to bring down the autocratic regime. Women are no longer behind; they are now represented in every field.”

The event was presided over by July Konna Foundation President Jannatul Naeem Promi. Noakhali Science and Technology University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Ismail attended as the chief patron, along with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Rezwanul Haque, Noakhali Additional Deputy Commissioner Ismail Hossain, and University Proctor Mohammad Arifur Rahman.