Law enforcement deployment for elections begins today

Members of the army and other law enforcement agencies are hitting the field from today, Sunday, to ensure the 13th parliamentary election and national referendum are free, fair, impartial, and peaceful.

During this time, 1,051 executive magistrates will also be in the field. They will perform their duties until February 14.

Election Commissioner Abdul Rahman Morshed informed about this matter on Saturday, February 7, stating that the army is already deployed in the field. More will join from Sunday. Formally, they will remain for seven days before and after the voting.

He informed that law enforcement agencies will work in coordination with the concerned Returning Officers. The EC's central coordination cell will also monitor the situation, and the Commission will receive real-time information through the security app.

Abdur Rahman Morshed said, "We have held meetings with law enforcement agencies. They have all stated that the field situation and the country's law and order are completely favourable and conducive to the election."

He said, "Since there are only four days left until the election, we are prepared, and voters, after concluding campaigns, are preparing for the festival of voting. The Commission believes the election environment is completely favourable, and the law and order situation is under control."

A circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that police, BGB, Ansar & VDP, and Coast Guard will be deployed to conduct the election peacefully, fairly, and impartially and maintain law and order. Members of the armed forces will be deployed under 'In Aid to Civil Power' to assist the local civil administration.

This time, approximately 900,000 members from various forces will perform election duties. Among them, around 550,000 members of Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) will be deployed at polling centres. About 150,000 police personnel, 100,000 armed forces members, and 35,000 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel will be deployed.