Polls security jumps: All parties to get protocol

The government has decided to provide a comprehensive security protocol for all political parties in view of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum.

Under the proposed protocol, clear guidelines will be issued on how political leaders and prospective candidates can ensure security at their residences and offices, during travel, at public rallies, and in cyberspace, according to a press release issued from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. 

The authorities have also taken initiatives to extend enhanced security to frontline leaders of the July uprising and other key political figures.

Meanwhile, police have identified the attacker and his associates involved in the gun attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Moncho and a potential independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming nation polls. 

Law enforcement agencies have launched intensive operations to arrest those responsible.

The motorcycle used in the attack has already been seized, and forensic examination of fingerprints collected from suspects is underway. 

To prevent the prime suspect from fleeing the country, photographs and other identifying details were circulated to all immigration checkpoints on Friday night. Patrols by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have also been intensified in border areas.

Although the suspects’ locations have been detected several times within the country, police said arrests have so far been unsuccessful due to their frequent changes of location.

Investigators have also collected the travel history of the main suspect, who reportedly introduced himself as an IT businessman. Records show that he travelled to several countries over the past few years, with his most recent trip being to Singapore on 21 July.

A few more individuals suspected of having links to the attack have been brought under close surveillance.

Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Indian high commissioner and reiterated Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal.

The high commissioner was informed that Sheikh Hasina, currently staying in India, has been making provocative statements with the intention of undermining peace, stability and security in Bangladesh and sabotaging the forthcoming election, while allegedly directing her supporters to engage in terrorist activities.

Bangladesh urged the Indian government to immediately stop such “fascist terrorist activities” by Hasina and her associates who are in hiding in India. 

The Indian authorities were also requested to cooperate with Bangladesh to prevent the attempted killers of Sharif Osman Hadi from fleeing to India and to arrest and extradite them promptly should they manage to cross the border.