The interim government is ramping up security preparations and coordination among key law enforcement agencies regarding the upcoming national elections.
In a high-level meeting chaired by the chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his official residence Jamuna in Dhaka on Monday, several crucial decisions were made regarding law enforcement, countering misinformation and administrative readiness.
Chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media after the meeting.
Shafiqul said that the inspector general of police informed the meeting that starting in September, approximately 150,000 police officers would undergo special training on election duties. The training would continue through October and November to ensure security preparedness across the country.
In addition, around 60,000 army personnel would be deployed as the striking forces for the upcoming national elections.
With disinformation on the rise ahead of the election, the government was planning to establish a National Information Center, he added.
鈥楾he center will rapidly identify and counter disinformation, ensuring accurate updates reach the public in real-time,鈥� Shafiqul said.
A proposal for a media wing within the newly established national security command structure is under discussion, which will allow for regular press briefings and real-time information dissemination regarding law and order situations.
The press secretary issued a stern warning to YouTubers and non-traditional content creators who cover news events without following proper journalistic ethics.
鈥楳any are seen collecting news without applying even the minimum standards of professional conduct, which disrupts the work of trained journalists,鈥� Alam said.
Deputy press secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder added that law enforcement agencies have been directed to identify potential election-time 鈥榟otspots鈥�, areas that could see unrest, and submit situation reports to the central authority. Based on these reports, special deployments would be made in vulnerable districts, he said.
The meeting also discussed administrative reshuffles, where possible, ahead of the polls.
Earlier in the day, the US charge d' affaires in Dhaka, Tracey Ann Jacobson, met with chief adviser to discuss counter-terrorism, ongoing political dialogues under the National Consensus Commission, and tariff-related negotiations, said Shafiqul.
The government reiterated its 鈥榸ero tolerance鈥� policy toward terrorism, emphasising that national security remains a top priority during the election period, he said.
A Bangladeshi delegation is set to depart for Washington tonight to continue tariff negotiations, accompanied by a group of business leaders, he said.
