Bangladesh Air Force has deployed advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to strengthen security and monitor polling stations during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum.
Officials at the central monitoring cell established at the Election Commission headquarters confirmed the deployment on Wednesday.
According to officials, the Air Force has taken comprehensive measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the election. A total of 3,730 Air Force personnel have been deployed across the country. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Air Staff, helicopters, transport aircraft, and multiple UAVs are conducting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations to monitor the law and order situation during the polls.
The UAVs are capable of observing ground conditions from the air and providing real-time information to law enforcement agencies in the field, enabling prompt responses to any emerging situations.
Officials at the monitoring cell described the UAVs as a strategic asset for safeguarding the country’s airspace, adding that the aircraft are actively monitoring different parts of the country.
In a directive, the Election Commission instructed the Air Force to provide live aerial footage of polling areas to the central monitoring cell and the office of the Chief Adviser.
Voting is scheduled to take place from 7:30am to 4:30pm on Thursday. Polls will be held in 299 parliamentary constituencies, excluding Sherpur-3, where voting has been suspended following the death of a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, according to the Election Commission.
A total of 51 political parties are participating in the upcoming election, with 2,034 candidates contesting across the country. Of them, 275 are running as independent candidates.
Among the political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fielded the highest number of candidates, with 291 contesting under the party’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. Islami Andolan Bangladesh has nominated 258 candidates under the hand fan symbol, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded 229 candidates with the scales symbol. The Jatiya Party has nominated 198 candidates under its traditional plough symbol.
The National Citizen Party has entered 32 candidates in the race, contesting under the water lily bud symbol. Among the independent candidates, 76 are contesting with the football symbol.
