Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul has said there is no reason to fear the upcoming national elections, reiterating that the government is determined to hold them in the first half of February.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a views exchange meeting with judges at the Legal Aid Office of the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court on Sunday morning.
“There is no question of delaying the election. It will certainly be held, and all necessary steps will be taken to create a festive atmosphere,” Asif Nazrul said.
He noted that political parties often make statements to put pressure on each other and on the advisers. “Some of their words may be true, but they can also create unnecessary fear in the public mind about the election,” he added.
The adviser said fear among citizens was understandable, as elections had not been held in the last 16–17 years. “About 50 million people have never voted before. This is very important to them. People are eagerly waiting for the election with enthusiasm,” he said.
On the issue of bail, he said the decision does not solely depend on judges but also on police reports. “Bail can be granted where it is appropriate. But if an accused is likely to reoffend, disrupt law and order, or act on behalf of banned organizations, we become cautious,” he said.
Asif Nazrul added that three judges are being assigned to courts instead of one to ease the case backlog. “We are taking various initiatives to reform the judiciary, and the public will see the benefits,” he said.