Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus urged all district superintendents of police (SPs) to view the upcoming national election as a “historic duty” and to ensure that the polls are peaceful, well-managed, and credible.

He delivered the message during a meeting with the newly appointed SPs from all 64 districts at his office in Tejgaon.

According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, Yunus said the upcoming election carries special significance because it follows the July mass movement, in which people sacrificed their lives. He noted that the aspirations of that uprising were tied to building a renewed Bangladesh, and the next election is a step toward fulfilling that vision.

Yunus also announced that a referendum will be held alongside the national polls, which he described as a foundation-setting step for the country’s future. He said the referendum is expected to provide guiding principles for the next century.

Addressing the SPs, he stressed that the election must be managed in such a way that it can be showcased internationally as a model event, especially with foreign observers and delegations expected to monitor the process.

He pointed out that previous elections were widely criticised—some described as theatrical, others as flawed—and insisted that this time the nation must break from that past and set a new benchmark.

Yunus encouraged officials to be proactive, thoughtful, and innovative in their duties, noting that not every situation can be dictated by written instructions. He emphasised that the police have a major role in bringing about this change.

He also proposed holding district- or division-level competitions among police personnel to boost performance and morale, with rewards offered for exceptional work.

Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Md Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Nasimul Gani, and Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam were also present at the meeting.