Comilla, Feb 28, (V7N) – Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, stated that he is not currently affiliated with any political party, given his role in the interim government of Bangladesh. He clarified, "I am not involved in any party's activities. My responsibility is with the government. Since this government is tasked with transforming the country into a democratic framework, we cannot be involved with any political party. However, my hope is that all political parties in Bangladesh, not just new ones, will focus on the welfare of the people and work for the public good."
 
He shared these thoughts while speaking to reporters after a meeting in Muradnagar, Comilla, on Thursday evening. The event was held at the Akabpur Haji Yakub Ali Bhuiyan Public High School ground under the banner of "Akabpur Union People." The meeting, which was focused on the overall development plans for the area, was attended by local civil society representatives, with Asif Mahmud serving as the chief guest. Notably, Akabpur is his native village.
 
Regarding the timing of local elections, the advisor mentioned that a final decision has not yet been made. "The decision on local government elections has not been finalized. However, discussions are ongoing, and once a decision is made, we will make it public," he added.
 
When asked about public concerns over the law and order situation, Asif Mahmud emphasized the government's efforts to improve security. "The law and order situation has already improved significantly due to various government initiatives. For instance, the number of incidents like snatching had risen in the past, but the presence of security forces has been increased to address this. You will see that security personnel are now more active in every alley of Dhaka. We hope that law and order will continue to improve in the near future."
 
He also highlighted the serious issue of drug trafficking in the region, especially in border areas like Comilla, and stressed the importance of addressing this problem for a better future. "If we want a beautiful Bangladesh, we must ensure that the younger generation, who will lead the country in the future, grows up in a healthy environment. The biggest obstacle to their development is drug addiction. Therefore, I have directed law enforcement to take strong actions against drug trafficking and to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs in Muradnagar," he said.
 
The event was also attended by Comilla's Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education & ICT) Md. Touhidul Islam, Additional Police Superintendent Md. Rashedul Islam, Muradnagar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Abdur Rahman, and Ubaydul Siddiqi, Convener of the Muradnagar Upazila Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
 
END/MHC/SMA/