Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Feb 17, 2025 (BSS) - Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain today said the incumbent Election Commission (EC) expressed the hope to hold the next general election in a free, fair and neutral manner. 

“The Election Commission announces polls policies, they don’t go to the field . . .  Returning officers have the responsibility to do it. Besides, the present Deputy Commissioners (DCs) are very sincere and eligible as well. They are working sincerely,” he said.

 Adviser Sakhawat, a former election commissioner and also the adviser to the ministries of the food and land, made the remarks after coming out from the DC conference held for the second consecutive day here today. 

He was talking to the newsmen soon after the first session of the second day’s DC Conference -2025 at the Osmani Smrity Auditorium here. 

Referring to the conference where the DCs have put forward their recommendations on the rivers’ navigability, naval security, terminals (ghats), the adviser said, “Two-thirds of our country is dependent on the river and we are trying to solve the problems gradually.” 

Replying to a query of the journalists, Brigadier Sakhawat said the Ministry of Labour has undertaken several projects on child labor and their rehabilitation. 

“There are committees for rehabilitation in every division and district of the country. The ministry of Labour has been asked to be more active in this regard,” he added. 

The adviser said necessary instructions were given to increase the operations of mobile courts also.

About the Balumahal (sands), he said the DCs concerned have been asked to take preventive measures from stealing sands from Manikganj and Munshiganj and Meghna rivers. 

Senior officials, including the secretaries to the ministries concerned, were present on the occasion.