The government will stage a grand rally of Village Police personnel at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka on 7 November, bringing together approximately 47,000 members from across the country.

The Local Government Division will organise the rally at the field adjacent to the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attending as the chief guest.

A preparatory meeting was held in the conference room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat on Tuesday to ensure the successful organization of the grand rally.

The meeting was chaired by Mir Shahe Alam, state minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives. Among those present were Mohammad Abdus Salam, administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation; Shafiqul Islam, administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation; Md Shahidul Hasan, secretary of the Local Government Division; senior officials from the ministry and various departments; and deputy directors of the Local Government Division (DDLGs) from all 64 districts.

In his remarks, the State Minister said that, for the first time in history, the government was organizing a grand rally to honour approximately 47,000 village police officers from across the country and hear their concerns directly.

Although village police officers have previously raised various demands through their own associations, the Prime Minister now wishes to hear directly from grassroots law enforcement personnel about their opinions and demands on behalf of the government.

He said that village police constitute an established system operating under a legal framework. To increase their salaries and allowances, improve their benefits and strengthen their legal authority, Deputy Directors of the Local Government Division at the district level have been instructed to submit proposals with recommendations within the next seven working days. Based on the recommendations received, a summary will be prepared and submitted to the Prime Minister, and the resulting decisions may subsequently be announced at the rally.

In response to questions from journalists, the State Minister said that the government would not interfere in the upcoming local government elections in the slightest. He stated that the current government and the Local Government Division were fully committed to delivering free, fair and festive elections.

He added that the Deputy Directors of the Local Government Division (DDLGs) working at the field level, along with the civil and police administrations, had already been given the necessary instructions to ensure a level playing field for all candidates in every election announced by the Election Commission.

He noted that, after a long period, the government would provide all possible assistance to the Election Commission to create an atmosphere in which people across the country could exercise their voting rights in villages amid a joyful and festive environment. He emphasized that the government would not accept responsibility for any irregularities or blemishes associated with these elections.

Meanwhile, responding to another question concerning the nationwide dengue situation and preventive measures, the State Minister said that the Local Government Ministry’s primary responsibilities were prevention, ensuring cleanliness and raising public awareness.

To this end, a large-scale, coordinated campaign will begin tomorrow across upazilas, municipalities and city corporation areas. The campaign will include extensive public announcements through loudspeakers, awareness campaigns on social media and coordinated drives to destroy mosquito breeding grounds.He further stated that, to accelerate cleanliness initiatives, special mosquito-control and cleanliness drives would continue every Saturday until 12 December at the upazila and municipal levels. These initiatives will involve the participation of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Scouts, Rover Scouts, Girl Guides, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and various voluntary organizations.