EC holds coordination meeting with security agencies ahead of polls
The meeting began at 9am at the EC Secretariat’s conference room (Room No-520) at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The Election Commission (EC) began a coordination meeting today (11 January) on law and order activities with the armed forces and 16 security agencies, ahead of the upcoming referendum and the national election scheduled for 12 February.
The meeting took place from 9am to 10am at the EC Secretariat's conference room (Room No-520) at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah presided over the meeting in presence of the EC secretary.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
However, no press briefing was held regarding the outcomes of the meeting.
Meeting sources said, to maintain peace and order during the election, the Election Commission has formed several committees involving coordination cells, vigilance teams, monitoring teams, and returning officers. In the previous law and order meeting, various directives were issued, including the recovery of illegal weapons and the arrest of criminals.
Sources at the meeting said that the lack of visible progress in coordination work was raised, and instructions were given to take swift and effective action.
An official who attended the law and order coordination meeting told journalists, "The meeting was very short, but important. Ahead of the vote, the various cells and election-related committees in different areas are not functioning properly. We have been instructed to ensure that they work effectively. Along with our monitoring, we are to inform the field level and notify the Election Commission, that was the gist of the meeting."
Yesterday (10 January), EC Deputy Secretary Md Monir Hossain issued a notice regarding the meeting.
According to the notice, the meeting was convened to ensure coordination of law and order-related activities in view of the forthcoming 13th national election and referendum vote.
Representatives from the Armed Forces Division, Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), National Security Intelligence, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) are attending the meeting.
Officials from other relevant agencies are also participating.
