As Bangladesh prepares for the 13th national election on February 12, the interim government has intensified security measures to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible vote.
Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order throughout the election period, noting that law enforcement agencies have been placed on heightened alert to prevent any disruption of the electoral process.
“Strict measures will be enforced during political programs and campaigns, with authorities empowered to enter any location, including polling centers, to pre-empt potential violence or sabotage. We are committed to keeping the law and order situation stable,” he said.
Security planning has included risk-based deployment strategies, border monitoring, and oversight of provocative content on social media. Jahangir urged political parties and the public to stay vigilant against sabotage and report suspicious activities, while assuring that citizens will be protected throughout the election.
According to a Home Ministry circular issued Tuesday, law enforcement agencies will be deployed nationwide for seven days, from February 8 to February 14, to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections. Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP), and the Coast Guard will maintain order, while armed forces will assist under the “In aid to civil power” provision.
The election will involve approximately 127.5 million voters across 300 constituencies, with around 2,60,000 booths in nearly 43,000 polling stations. Over 800,000 personnel will be assigned to election duties, including 550,000 Ansar and VDP members, 150,000 police, 100,000 armed forces, and 35,000 BGB personnel. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Coast Guard will also provide support.
Deployment arrangements vary by location. Outside metropolitan areas, general polling stations will have two armed police and three Ansar members, while important stations will have three armed police and three Ansar personnel. In metropolitan areas, general stations will have three armed police and three Ansar, and important stations four armed police and three Ansar. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and other remote areas, general polling stations will have two armed police and three Ansar, and important stations three armed police and three Ansar. Each presiding officer in CHT and remote areas will also receive one armed Ansar member for personal security.
Additionally, all polling stations will have 10 Ansar personnel (four women and six men) equipped with sticks to assist in maintaining order. Security deployments will be coordinated with the Election Commission (EC), with oversight from returning officers.
The Home Ministry circular also details a two-phase deployment plan. The first phase maintains continuous security, while the second is vote-centric. Mobile and striking forces, including the armed forces, BGB, Coast Guard, RAB, APBN, and Ansar Battalion, will operate across districts, upazilas, and police stations to maintain law and order. The Coast Guard will focus on coastal areas.
A law and order coordination cell has been formed to ensure seamless cooperation among all agencies, and a special 24/7 team under emergency number 999 will forward election-related complaints to the Home Ministry for prompt action. Joint area-based operations and checkpoints will also be conducted throughout the election period.
