Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a strict warning regarding the maintenance of neutrality during the 13th national parliamentary elections and the upcoming referendum.
He said that if any member of the Coast Guard or other law enforcement agencies becomes involved with any individual, political party, or political agenda, disciplinary and stringent legal action will be taken against the concerned member.
He made the remarks while addressing the “Bangladesh Coast Guard Medal” ceremony held on Tuesday (February 3) at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The Home Adviser emphasised that the government will show no leniency regarding the neutrality of Coast Guard members while performing their duties in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and referendum.
Highlighting the contributions of the Coast Guard, he said the force has been working courageously to ensure security in coastal areas and inland waterways, prevent illegal fishing, curb arms and drug trafficking, combat human trafficking, robbery, and piracy, and conduct regular patrols to successfully rescue distressed vessels and sailors.
Praising the Coast Guard’s role in disaster management, he added that the force’s efforts in raising awareness among coastal communities, carrying out rescue and relief operations during cyclones, floods, and other disasters, distributing winter clothing and life jackets, and assisting in resolving the Rohingya crisis have been highly commendable.