Police will face legal action if they provide any illegal advantage to political party activists, said Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd).

The adviser made the remarks on Tuesday during a briefing with journalists at the Ministry of Home Affairs conference room in Bangladesh Secretariat, following a meeting of the law-and-order core committee.

The meeting discussed issues including drug prevention, the upcoming national parliamentary elections, border security, steps to seize illegal arms, and the overall law-and-order situation in the country.

When asked whether police would face action if they favoured any political party in the elections, the adviser said an ‘Electoral Inquiry Committee’ has been formed for the upcoming national polls. “If anyone neglects their duties during the elections, they will be immediately brought under the law. Previously, a general diary (GD) was filed, but this time legal action will follow immediately,” he said.

He also instructed police and other concerned officials to ensure a free, fair, and festive election environment.

Jahangir also said that the e-gates at Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport have been opened.

Regarding provocative statements on social media, he noted that most of these claims are usually untrue, while journalists’ reports are generally accurate. He urged journalists to produce accurate and investigative reports to counter provocative content online.

The briefing was attended by the Home Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfu Siddiqui, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam BPM, among others.