Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam on Tuesday clarified that it is the people, not he, who have expressed the view that the interim government should remain in place for five more years.
“I didn’t say that — people said the interim government should stay for five years, although our Chief Adviser has clearly stated that elections will be held between December and June. There is no question of me speaking about it,” he said at the Secretariat responding to a question about his recent remarks in Kishoreganj concerning the interim government.
The adviser said influential figures, or ‘big fish’, within the Awami League who are accused of various wrongdoings are being brought to justice.
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When asked why only grassroots activists were being arrested while top-level offenders remained free, Jahangir Alam replied, “I don’t fully agree with that. We’re not letting the big fish go—but they have to get caught in the net first. Unless they do, we cannot catch them. Whoever enters the net, we are catching. If someone escapes after being caught, then you may question us.”
About the incident of vandalism at a stage during Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Chattogram’s DC Hill, the adviser said, “That should not have happened. We will work to ensure such incidents do not recur in future. We are working for the people. But sometimes we fail to reach them effectively. We are trying, and where we fall short, we are making corrections.”
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Jahangir also mentioned that new police uniforms and a new logo will be introduced gradually.
Speaking about the overall law and order situation during the Bengali New Year and the closing days of Chaitra, the adviser said the celebrations were peaceful and inclusive across all communities.
He expressed gratitude to the law enforcement agencies and all others involved for ensuring that people could participate in the festivities safely and joyfully.
Asked why people are still not receiving the services they expect from police stations, amid rising criminal activity across the country, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, acknowledged that there are widespread complaints about police failing to take reports seriously.
“To address this, we’re planning to introduce online facilities for lodging General Diaries (GDs) and First Information Reports (FIRs). Online GDs will be piloted in two districts soon,” he said, adding that a formal statement will be issued from police headquarters in this regard.
“We’ll soon make it possible to file FIRs online. We hope this will lead to a lasting solution to the problem,” he added.