EC to monitor law and order using drones from Air Force, RAB, and BGB during election

The Election Commission has said it will monitor the law and order situation during the upcoming national election and referendum through drones operated by the armed forces, including the Bangladesh Air Force.

The commission has already sent letters requesting necessary measures for drone deployment to the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division and the director generals of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

In the letters, signed by EC Senior Assistant Secretary Md Shahidul Islam, it was stated that the 13th parliamentary election and referendum will be held on 12 February. It noted that following the announcement of the schedule, various forces, agencies, and departments have been working to maintain overall law and order effectively.

The letters further said that, ahead of the national election, unexpected and disorderly situations may arise during the election period. In such circumstances, drone surveillance would be highly helpful in quickly assessing the real-time situation on the ground, monitoring overall conditions, and making appropriate decisions.

In this context, the commission requested that drones be deployed by the Air Force, RAB and BGB to ensure the smooth, peaceful, and uninterrupted conduct of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum, and that live drone feeds be provided to the law and order coordination cell at the Election Commission Secretariat.

A separate letter sent to the Air Force also stated that live feeds from its drones must be shared with the Election Commission as well as the Chief Adviser's Office.

Currently, the number of registered voters in Bangladesh stands at 127,711,739. Of them, 64,825,361 are men, 62,885,200 are women, and 1,232 are listed as third-gender voters.

The Election Commission is set to conduct voting for the 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum on 12 February.