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Published : 29 Dec 2025, 01:41 PM
Home Affairs Advisor Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has acknowledged concerns over firearms entering through Bangldesh's borders ahead of the 13th general election.
According to him, a small number of weapons are indeed entering the country but those were being seized.
Speaking an event at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters in Dhaka's Pilkhana marking BGB Day on Monday, he said: “It’s not that a few weapons aren’t entering — they are. But they are being seized. You will see seizures every day. One or two at a time, but daily. On one day, even five foreign pistols were seized. No leniency is being shown anywhere,”
Responding to concerns about election security, Jahangir said there was currently “no threat” to the polls.
“Fascists will always try to obstruct [the election]. But if everyone cooperates, the election will be fair, peaceful and festive, and acceptable to all. That is the aim of the government."
Stressing that the home ministry was making full preparations for the upcoming election, Jahangir added: “The BGB is also taking all kinds of steps ahead of the election. They will deploy 35,000 members during the polls.”
On reports that the prime suspect in the killing of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi had fled to India and that two people had been arrested there for assisting him — a claim made by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Sunday but denied by police in India's Meghalaya — the advisor said: “The Detective Branch issued another statement last night. If you read that statement, you will understand.”
In a statement on the arrests in India, the DMP said that based on confessional statements of several arrestees in the Hadi murder case, they learnt that the two individuals had crossed into India. The DMP also said they had received information from “multiple sources” in border areas that Meghalaya Police had detained the two.
Asked about an explosion at a madrasa in Keraniganj, the home advisor said: “The person who committed the crime is absconding, but his accomplice has been arrested. Efforts are under way to arrest the main perpetrator.”
Jahangir urged the BGB to help ensure that the election is “festive”.
“This election must be fair, peaceful, free and festive. You must take whatever preparations and training are required. Making this election festive is a big responsibility for you. I believe you will carry it out well. I hope you will give the nation an acceptable election,” he said.
Describing the BGB as a "three-dimensional" force that plays a vital role in border security, assisting in maintaining law and order, and public welfare, he said: “While upholding national interests, you must perform your duties with lawfully and with the utmost dedication, like vigilant guards of the border.
“No drugs should enter through the borders. No local products should be smuggled out of the country illegally by evading the BGB’s vigilance.”
He warned that strict legal action would be taken against any BGB member found assisting smugglers or drug traffickers.
He called for “utmost caution” to ensure that criminals or militants cannot flee Bangladesh through border routes.
BGB Director-General Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said the force was now more organised than ever before.
He highlighted the past year’s achievements and said BGB operations were focusing on five key areas: operations, training, intelligence, coordination and sports.
“We may not have succeeded fully in every area, but there has been no lack of effort,” he said, adding that the force was committed to carrying out election duties with “the highest level of sincerity”.
Marking BGB Day, Jahangir presented medals to members in recognition of their outstanding service. This year, a total of 72 personnel were awarded various honours: 12 received the Border Guard Bangladesh Medal (BGBM), 24 the President’s Border Guard Medal (PBGM), 12 the Border Guard Bangladesh Medal–Service (BGBMS), and 24 the President’s Border Guard Medal–Service (PBGMS).
