National Desk
Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that the law and order situation across Bangladesh has significantly improved over the past one and a half years, and there is little risk of deterioration ahead of the upcoming general election.
He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to journalists after attending the regular Core Committee meeting on law and order at the Home Ministry in the Bangladesh Secretariat. Jahangir noted that election rallies and processions are expected to increase as the polling date approaches, highlighting the importance of maintaining security during the electoral process.
Addressing earthquake preparedness, the Home Adviser urged authorities to remain vigilant and emphasized the need for an early warning system, noting that Bangladesh currently lacks such infrastructure. “Many countries have applications that can issue warnings 10 seconds before a potential earthquake. We are considering developing similar systems in the future,” he said, adding that discussions with experts are planned to explore viable solutions.
He also stressed strict compliance with building codes and called on the capital development authority, RAJUK, to carefully review proposals for buildings on reclaimed waterbodies, citing the heightened risks associated with such constructions.
Regarding the Fire Service and Civil Defence, Jahangir acknowledged their prompt responses to minor incidents but noted that the true effectiveness of preparedness measures can only be evaluated in the aftermath of a major earthquake.
The remarks come in the wake of four earthquakes that struck Bangladesh on Friday and Saturday, resulting in at least 10 fatalities, numerous injuries, and structural damage to several buildings, including tilting of some structures. The incidents have raised widespread concern about the country’s readiness for future seismic events.