Dhaka, Feb 03 (V7N) — Home Affairs Advisor Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that strict legal action will be taken if any evidence is found of implementing a party agenda during the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections and referendum.

He made the remarks while speaking at a Bangladesh Coast Guard programme in Agargaon on Tuesday morning (February 3).

The advisor said the government would show zero tolerance regarding the impartiality of Coast Guard members in performing their election duties.

“If any individual, party, or member is found to be involved in political activities or agendas, departmental and strict legal action will be taken,” he warned.

Praising the Coast Guard’s overall performance, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the force has been working courageously to ensure security in coastal areas and inland waterways, prevent illegal fishing, curb arms and drug smuggling, stop human trafficking, and suppress robbery and piracy. He also highlighted the Coast Guard’s role in conducting rescue operations for accident-hit vessels and sailors through regular patrols.

Commending its contribution during natural disasters, he said the Coast Guard has played a commendable role in cyclone and flood preparedness, public awareness campaigns, rescue and relief operations, distribution of winter clothes and life jackets, and in managing aspects of the Rohingya crisis.

The advisor further noted that, alongside preventing smuggling and trafficking in border river areas, the Bangladesh Coast Guard has been playing an important role in ensuring regional maritime security.

“Recognising this contribution, several countries, including the United States and Australia, have expressed appreciation and interest in working with the Bangladesh Coast Guard,” he said.

Referring to the February 12 elections and referendum, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said around 900,000 members of law enforcement and security forces—including 3,585 Coast Guard personnel—have been deployed nationwide to ensure free, fair, peaceful, and impartial polls. As part of the deployment, 100 Coast Guard platoons have already been stationed across districts in the Barisal, Chittagong, and Khulna divisions.

Calling corruption the biggest enemy of the state, he said corruption weakens institutions from within and erodes public trust, stressing that it must be resisted at all levels.

Also present at the event were Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Md. Ziaul Haque, and other senior officials.

END/SMA/AJ