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Published : 27 Jan 2026, 06:49 PM
Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said the ministry sees no problem with fairs being held beyond 365 metres of polling centres, saying this would not disrupt the voting environment.
He made the comments on Sunday after a meeting of the home ministry’s law and order committee.
He responded to a question about the apparent contradiction between another advisor permitting fairs near polling centres and Jahangir’s emphasis on keeping voters’ routes clear.
“No, it is not contradictory. By ‘around polling centres’ we did not specify a certain number of yards. They will be set up a bit further. They will not be within 365 metres.”
Earlier, at another event, Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum had said: “If possible, hold fairs around polling centres. Everyone will come to the fair, people will buy and sell. There will be commerce and people will also cast their votes.”
Asked how many of the weapons looted from police stations during the July Uprising belonged to police and how many were licensed firearms owned by civilians that had been kept at the stations, Jahangir said he did not have the “information” at that moment and that it would be provided after the next meeting.
On the presence of any risks surrounding the parliamentary election, Jahangir said: “This question has been raised for a year. For this entire year I have been saying there is no risk, and I am still saying there is no risk.”
The home advisor also outlined the ministry’s activities related to the election in a written statement.
He said: “The meeting discussed the overall law and order situation in the country, the formation of a law-and-order coordination cell at the home ministry for the 2026 parliamentary election and referendum, prevention of untoward incidents and maintenance of law and order during the election campaign, a review of the progress of Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, recovery of illegal and looted weapons, anti-narcotics drives, and several other important issues.”
On ensuring maximum security during the election, he said: “Security is our top priority. To that end, the home ministry is working in a coordinated manner.”
