Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb on Friday ordered government officials to counter political pressures and avoid serving the interests of politicians.

The government will extend support to the officials when difficult and powerful steps are required against strong political forces, he assured them. The officials must perform duties with a “strong spine,” he noted.

Taiyeb made the remarks during a meeting on reviewing the progress of development projects in Cumilla held at the office of the district administrator.

He also ordered relevant officials to take strict measures against land grabbing, illegal soil cutting and selling activities, crimes committed by grassroots political leaders in many areas.

Officials must also move resolutely against irregular market management activities that are causing traffic gridlocks on the Cumilla-Noakhali Highway and Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, Taiyeb said at the meeting.

In the post-meeting briefing, he told reporters that the government is working to remove differences among political parties for implementing crucial state reform proposals and drafting the “July Charter.” Without crucial reforms in state affairs, future elections will pave the way for a return of fascist rule in the country, he said.