One lakh army personnel deployed to ensure smooth election: Army Headquarters

Army Headquarters has said one lakh army personnel have been deployed to ensure a fair and smooth environment in the upcoming national election.

In previous elections, a maximum of 40,000 to 42,000 army personnel were deployed as striking forces, mostly stationed in remote areas. This time, they have been authorised to conduct direct patrols up to the premises of polling centres.

The expanded deployment, aimed at ensuring voters’ safe movement to polling centres and restoring public confidence, has been in effect since January 20.

The information was disclosed at a press conference on Thursday, February 5, at the Roller Skating Complex in Gulistan, Dhaka, by Brigadier General Dewan Mohammad Manzur Hossain, director of military operations at Army Headquarters, regarding army activities under in-aid to civil power.

He said that the primary reason for deploying one lakh personnel this time is the permission to patrol directly up to polling centre premises. The objective is to ensure that ordinary voters can reach polling centres without obstruction.

He added that army personnel are working tirelessly day and night solely to restore voter confidence.

The brigadier general also said that assistance has been sought from the civil administration due to shortages of necessary vehicles, and patrols are being conducted using hired vehicles where required.