Next National Election Will Be Held Under a Caretaker Government: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed

The next national election will be held under a neutral caretaker government, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said. The statement led the news across multiple outlets on the same day, making it the most discussed political announcement in the country at the moment about the framework of the election.

He made the remarks while answering journalists' questions at a press briefing on contemporary issues held on Sunday (25 October) afternoon in the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Secretariat.

The Home Minister said the necessary amendments would be brought to the constitution through the legislature to restore the caretaker government system. In other words, he outlined a plan to bring the system back through the parliamentary route.

He added that holding elections under a neutral caretaker government is one of the pledges of political consensus and of the movement, and reiterated that the necessary constitutional amendments would be made to re-establish the system.

The briefing covered not only the election but several law-and-order issues. On the situation in Sajek in the hill region, the Home Minister said some tension had appeared during the tourist season because of internal feuds and rivalry for dominance among several small armed groups, but the situation is now completely under control.

He said the army and police are taking the necessary steps to maintain peace and order. Political discussions with local leadership, including local MP Wadud Bhuiyan, are also continuing, he noted.

Asked about an attempted attack on police in the Kheyaghat area of Gopalganj Sadar, the Home Minister said some individuals from the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations Chhatra League and Jubo League had tried to attack patrolling police. Legal action is being taken against those involved after reviewing video footage of the incident, he said.

On the raid at the residence of an additional DIG during the Puja holiday and the sentencing of 85 people through a mobile court, he said the accused officer has already been attached, and departmental cases and other proceedings under existing law will continue against him.

On bringing back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is abroad, the Home Minister said requests have been made several times to the neighbouring country through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the law and the extradition treaty.

He said that although fascist forces are trying to create instability, no fugitive criminal will be given the opportunity to carry out fresh subversive activities in the country — a statement through which he conveyed the government's firm position.

Overall, the biggest message of the briefing centred on the election: the next national election will be held under a caretaker government, and the government will move towards amending the constitution for that purpose. Attention will now be on reactions in the political arena and on the next steps after this announcement.

More detail is expected in the coming days on the preparation of the constitutional amendment, its presentation in the legislature and the election timetable. For now, the Home Minister's statement is the government's latest and clearest position on the electoral process.