Concerns remain, but no shortfall in security preparations for vote

Despite concerns over morale of police and risks of clashes and violence, law enforcement agencies say they are fully prepared to ensure security at polling centres today (11 February).

About 9,58,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies – police, RAB, the army, Ansar and other forces – have been deployed across the country on the occasion of the 13th national parliamentary elections and referendum. Chiefs of the respective forces have expressed optimism about completing the vote without disruption.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said 2,098 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates will be on duty in the election field, reports BSS.

According to the EC, among the law enforcement agencies, 1,03,000 troops of the army, 3,500 personnel of the air force and 5,000 members of the navy have been deployed.

About 37,453 personnel of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be on the ground too.

Speaking at the Police Headquarters media centre on Tuesday about the overall law and order situation ahead of the national election, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said the government has taken maximum preparations to organise the 13th parliamentary election as the safest in history.

The Election Commission is also prepared to hold the vote under unprecedented security arrangements. Voting in 299 constituencies is set to begin at 7:30am today and continue until 4:30pm.

A total of 2,028 candidates, including those from 50 parties and independents, are contesting the election. The voter roll stands at nearly 13 crore.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said coordinated preparations have been taken to ensure a peaceful, credible and participatory referendum and parliamentary election. He said overall security and coordination measures have been arranged with the support of law enforcement agencies and the government.

Jasmine Tuli, former member of the Electoral Reform Commission and former additional secretary of the EC Secretariat, told TBS, "The Election Commission's biggest focus right nowshould be on the law and order situation. If any major violent incident occurs on voting day, the entire election will be called into question."

According to intelligence sources, there are risks of clashes in nearly every constituency to varying degrees. In particular, constituencies with rebel candidates alongside party nominees face the possibility of two-way or three-way clashes over control of polling centres.

Police data show that of the 42,779 polling centres nationwide, more than 25,000 have been identified as vulnerable. Of these, 8,770 are highly vulnerable, 16,000 are moderately vulnerable, and the rest are considered general. In Dhaka metropolitan area, 1,614 of the 2,131 polling centres have been marked as important or vulnerable.

EC sources said that depending on the importance of the centre, 16 to 18 security personnel will be deployed at each polling station. Of nearly 43,000 centres, 25,700 will be equipped with body-worn cameras for police.

The "Election Security App" will also be used, accessible only to officials and security personnel on election duty. In the event of violence or unrest at or near a polling centre, alerts will be sent instantly to the relevant forces, returning officers and the central EC through the app.

Each constituency will have multiple monitoring teams, including electoral, judicial and executive magistrates, observer committees and law and order cells. Information will be collected every two hours and sent to district and regional election offices as well as the central monitoring cell.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said real-time data will also be available through an automation system.

Outside metropolitan areas, general polling centres will have two armed police members, battalion Ansar, general Ansar, one armed section commander from VDP, and one armed Ansar member for the presiding officer's security.

Important centres will have three armed police members in addition to an armed section commander and one armed Ansar member for the presiding officer.

In metropolitan areas, general centres will have three police members and 13 Ansar and VDP members. Important centres will have four police members and 13 Ansar and VDP members.

In hilly and remote areas, general centres will have two police members, 13 Ansar and VDP members and two village police members. Important centres will have three police members, 13 Ansar and VDP members and two village police members.

At Tuesday's press conference, IGP Baharul Alam said each polling centre will have a three-tier security system: a static force at the centre, mobile teams outside, and a striking force ready for emergencies. Additional surveillance will be maintained at vulnerable and moderately vulnerable centres.

He added that advanced technology is being used more than ever before in election security. CCTV cameras have been installed at 80–90% of centres at the EC's initiative.

RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman visited several polling centres in Dhaka on Wednesday. After inspecting a centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, he told reporters that while risks exist, those attempting to disrupt the election, cast fake votes, snatch ballot boxes or attack centres would face severe consequences.

"The risk this time is for those who try to break the law," he said, warning of strict action against any attempt at sabotage or disorder.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has also taken maximum security measures. In addition to polling centre security, specialised bomb disposal units, SWAT, K-9 units and crime scene vans have been deployed. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said checkposts and patrols have been intensified and police remain on alert despite no specific threat.

A total of 26,515 DMP members have been deployed for election duties in Dhaka. Striking forces, mobile teams and reserve forces will operate alongside specialised units.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) will perform election duties in uniform, divided into three units.

Police Headquarters has also instructed field-level officers to refrain from 22 specific activities while on election duty, warning of disciplinary action for violations.

According to the directive, police personnel are strictly prohibited from accepting food, gifts or any other form of benefit from candidates, their agents or supporters. They are also barred from taking photographs with candidates, engaging in close conversations or maintaining informal contact with them.

Meanwhile, 27,995 legally owned weapons across the country were deposited till Tuesday, with 20,288 firearms not surrendered.

The Election Commission Secretariat last night said that election materials were delivered smoothly to all polling centres, and the overall law and order situation at polling stations and in the surrounding electoral areas remained normal.