Election Commissioner Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah has said there is no need to deploy the army for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election, citing the current law and order situation and electoral environment.
He said 3 times as many law enforcement personnel had been deployed for the by-election compared with the national parliamentary election. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will also be installed at polling centers, with adequate security measures in place.
He added that the electoral environment remained satisfactory so far.
The election commissioner made the remarks to journalists at 10am on Wednesday after a meeting with members of the law-and-order cell, vigilance and observation teams, and relevant officials at the conference room of the Thakurgaon deputy commissioner's office.
Earlier, at an administrative meeting at Thakurgaon Circuit House, he instructed relevant officials and law enforcement agencies to make the necessary preparations to ensure a free, fair and impartial election.
The meeting emphasized maintaining normal law and order, complying with the electoral code of conduct, and ensuring that voters could exercise their voting rights without hindrance.
Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed attended the meeting as a special guest. Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Islam chaired it.
The meeting discussed the overall security situation surrounding the by-election, maintaining the electoral environment, and strengthening coordination among the relevant agencies.
Election Commissioner Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah arrived in Thakurgaon on Tuesday night to inspect preparations and security arrangements for the by-election and provide necessary instructions to those concerned. He is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.