Dhaka, July 1 (V7N) — The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed all law enforcement agencies to begin preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, which is expected to be held in February next year. Anticipating possible unrest surrounding the electoral process, the government has scheduled two joint drills—one in September and another shortly before the election—to strengthen coordinated responses to violence.

These decisions were made during a meeting of the law and order core committee held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday.

During the meeting, one of the government’s advisers told members of the security forces, “You must prepare on the assumption that there will be violence during the election.” He emphasized the importance of joint operational readiness, noting that if violence erupts at a polling center, swift and coordinated action must be taken to contain it. The adviser underscored that simulations involving all relevant security and intelligence agencies should be conducted to improve preparedness.

The directive comes amid growing concerns over political tensions and past precedents of election-related violence in the country.

Magazine Incident at Airport Addressed

The meeting also addressed the recent controversy involving a pistol magazine found in the bag of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan at the airport. Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury commented on the matter, describing it as a "simple mistake."

"Sometimes you intend to carry your eyeglasses but end up bringing your mobile phone instead. In this case, the magazine was unintentionally left in the bag—it was just a mistake," said Chowdhury. “If Asif Mahmud had known about it beforehand, he would never have carried it.”

He also dismissed speculation that the magazine was linked to an AK-47, saying, “Some are claiming he had a license for an AK-47. This is not an AK-47.”

The incident had sparked debate on social media and in political circles, raising questions about airport security and weapons regulations. However, the government appears to be treating the matter as unintentional and not linked to any criminal or security concerns.

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