Nearly 1m security personnel deployed for election

Around 970,000 members of law enforcement and security agencies have been deployed across the country to ensure security during the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum, officials said.

Personnel from the Army, Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard and Ansar have been stationed in election areas. They will remain deployed until 14 February.

According to sources at the Election Commission (EC), more than 970,000 security personnel have been assigned election duties.

Of them, 576,483 are from the Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), 103,000 from the Army, 5,000 from the Navy, 3,730 from the Air Force, 37,453 from the BGB, 3,585 from the Coast Guard, 187,603 from the Police, 9,349 from RAB, and 45,820 from chowkidars and dafardars.

To maintain law and order, the government has appointed 1,051 executive magistrates nationwide.

They will operate mobile courts in their respective areas from 8 to 14 February, according to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration.

The notification said the magistrates would work in coordination with law enforcement agencies and mobile and striking forces, particularly the BGB and Coast Guard, to prevent crime and ensure a peaceful election and referendum.

The executive magistrates have been instructed to report to their respective district magistrates or returning officers on 7 February. District magistrates will determine jurisdictions and assign duties within their districts. Magistrates are also required to regularly update district magistrates on mobile court activities.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the Army had already been deployed, with additional troops joining from Sunday. Officially, the armed forces will remain in the field for seven days before and after the election.

He said the Election Commission had held coordination meetings with all law enforcement agencies, which reported that the overall law and order situation was stable and conducive to holding the election.

“All ballot boxes have already been dispatched to districts, and returning officers are receiving them. Preparations are now in full swing,” he said, adding that the EC believes the election environment is entirely favourable.

Meanwhile, a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said that to ensure a free, peaceful and impartial election, members of the Police, BGB, Ansar and VDP, and the Coast Guard will be deployed, while the Armed Forces will assist the civil administration under the provision of “Aid to Civil Power.”