Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has ordered that all preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections be completed by December.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam made the announcement at a press briefing held on Wednesday night at the Foreign Service Academy on Baily Road in the capital.
Shafiqul Alam said the chief adviser had recently held an important meeting, which was attended by the home affairs adviser, the national security adviser, and the heads of various law enforcement agencies.
He added that two possible election dates were discussed during the meeting. The chief adviser proposed the first half of April, and it was also mentioned that if preparations are completed and reforms implemented, the election could be held before Ramadan.
The press secretary said: "Today, in a meeting that lasted about two hours, a review was conducted on the law and order situation related to the elections. The chief adviser issued several important instructions."
He further said that the chief adviser has directed law enforcement agencies to maintain strict vigilance in the coming months.
He noted that various conspiracies are being planned to disrupt the law and order situation ahead of the elections.
The press secretary also said that the chief adviser emphasized that the 13th election must not be a mere show of hands, but a truly free and fair election. Measures must be taken to ensure every citizen can exercise their right to vote.
Stating that 800,000 law enforcement personnel will be deployed for the elections, he said all members must complete their training by December to ensure a fair electoral process.
He added that many preparations are underway. For example, 17,000 new recruits are being inducted into law enforcement agencies, including the Police, BGB, and Coast Guard. Their recruitment and training must be completed within this period.
He also mentioned that discussions are ongoing about the possibility of setting up separate booths for voters aged 18 to 32.
In response to a question about how long the armed forces will retain magisterial powers, the press secretary did not elaborate, but confirmed that the Bangladesh Army will serve as a striking force during the 13th national election.
The press secretary said there had been discussions about reshuffling the posts of DCs, SPs, OCs, and UNOs before the election. This reshuffle will be carried out randomly.
He also noted that a plan is underway to assign police officers from one station to another during the election. Additionally, police officers will wear body cameras at every polling center.
Strict monitoring will be implemented at polling centers, in addition to the installation of CCTV cameras.
At this time, the Deputy Press Secretary provided updates on other election-related preparations.
The press conference was convened to inform the public about recent progress in preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Faiz Ahmed were present at the press conference.