Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today reiterated that the national polls will be held in February next, noting that those spreading confusion over the elections are "cohorts of the fallen autocratic government".

"There is no scope for confusion regarding the election. It must be held in the first half of February," he said while exchanging views with journalists at Netrakona Circuit House this morning.

"If you observe closely, you will find that those, who are trying to obstruct the election, were allies of the fallen autocratic government. Some of them might have received plots in Purbachal or enjoyed monitory benefits under that regime," the press secretary added.

Responding to a question on reform and rural journalism, Shafiqul Alam praised journalists for their relentless work, saying, "Journalists work hard day and night to collect and prepare news, and that's what keeps television channels running".

"They (television owners) use your (journalists') footage on air and on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook all the year round and earn money. Yet rural journalists receive no recognition or payment," he said, adding, rural journalists are given an ID card and told to go and earn. 

"This is the situation. Journalists should be vocal about this," the press secretary said.

Besides, the press secretary spoke with students of ITS Netrakona on the Circuit House premises. The students handed him a memorandum demanding various reforms while he assured them of forwarding the memorandum to the concerned authorities.

Later, Shafiqul Alam paid tributes to the martyrs of 2024 July Uprising by placing a wreath at the July Memorial at Moktarpara here.

Netrakona Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah Al Mahmud Zaman and Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayem Mahmud were present on the occasion.