Staff Correspondent:

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said whenever the police take action, allegations are made that they are overstepping their boundaries.

He made this remark on Sunday while responding to journalists’ questions at a briefing after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Secretariat.

Regarding the incident of arson and vandalism at the Jatiya Party office, the adviser said, “If the police had acted before the fire was set, you would have said that it was a peaceful programme and asked why the police intervened.

“But when the police intervened after the fire started, no one raised objections. Ideally, the action should have been taken before the fire was set.”

He further said that after the fall of the fascist regime, the unity that emerged among political parties must be preserved.

Differences of opinion among parties may exist, but for the greater national interest and to advance democracy, all political parties must set aside narrow personal and partisan interests and remain united.

“If cracks appear in this unity, collaborators of fascists could infiltrate and create chaos and anarchy,” he warned.

On the issue of elections, he said, a free, fair, impartial, and secure national election will depend largely on the political parties participating in it.

The adviser noted, “Our law enforcement agencies will provide all-out support in ensuring security and maintaining order during the election. We are fully prepared in this regard.

“Ensuring spontaneous and broad participation is crucial, and political parties must take responsibility for making sure everyone participates. Above all, with everyone’s cooperation, we hope the current interim government will be able to deliver a free, peaceful, and festive election.”