Govt gears up to complete election preparation by December

Highlights

• EC allocated Tk2,080cr to conduct election
• Tk20,000cr earmarked as contingency fund
• 8 lakh law enforcers to be trained, 20,000 to be recruited
• DCs, SPs to be transferred through lottery
• Law enforcers at polling centres to wear body cameras

The government aims to complete all necessary preparations by December for the next parliamentary elections and directed all relevant ministries to implement the preparation activities.

Officials from the home ministry said in order to ensure a free, fair, and impartial election, the chief adviser has issued 25 directives to the relevant ministries, outlining the necessary preparations required by law enforcement agencies. In response, the home ministry has started coordinating with other ministries to initiate the preparation process, aiming to complete all necessary measures by December.

Senior Secretary of the home ministry, Nasimul Ghani, sent a letter on 3 August to the secretaries of the finance ministry and other relevant ministries – a copy of which has been seen by The Business Standard. In the letter, he urged the ministries to take the necessary steps on an urgent basis to implement the decisions made by the chief adviser.

Finance Secretary Khairuzzaman Mozumder is one of the recipients of the letter. When asked about the contents of the letter, a senior official from the finance ministry told TBS that budget allocations have been made under the name of the home ministry for training law enforcement personnel and procuring necessary equipment.

"Additionally, the Election Commission has been allocated Tk2,080 crore to conduct the election. There is also an allocation of Tk20,000 crore under the contingency fund.

"The finance ministry will take necessary measures based on discussions with the home ministry regarding the kind of support it can provide to complete the election preparations," the official said.

Earlier, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed told the media that the government will exert all possible efforts in the allocation of funds for the election.

8 lakh law enforcement personnel to be trained, 20,000 to be recruited

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus held a meeting with the home ministry on preparations for the 13th parliamentary election and relevant reforms, held at his official residence Jamuna on 9 July.

The minutes of the meeting say a total of 8 lakh law enforcement personnel will be trained to carry out duties during the election. This includes 1,41,000 police officers, 47,000 members of the affiliated and general Ansar (with arms), 47,000 Ansar and VDP personnel (with arms and sticks), another 47,000 Ansar and VDP personnel (with sticks), and 94,000 village police and Dafadar.

Additionally, 60,000 military personnel will be deployed for the election, chief adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told the media on 28 July.

According to the minutes of the meeting, the chief adviser has approved the recruitment of 19,292 personnel – including members of the police and other law enforcement agencies – to be deployed for duties during the election. He has instructed the home ministry and other relevant ministries and departments to complete the recruitment process as soon as possible, start election-specific training immediately afterward, and ensure its completion by December.

A senior official from the home ministry, speaking to TBS on condition of anonymity, said the Chief Adviser has directed the recruitment of 11,000 personnel for the police, 5,513 for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 634 for the Coast Guard, and 2,145 for the Ansar to carry out duties during the election.

In addition to finalising all election preparations by December, the Chief Adviser has also directed law enforcement agencies to adopt a stricter stance in the coming months to maintain order.

As part of the preparations, the Chief Adviser has also decided to transfer deputy commissioners (DCs), superintendents of police (SPs), upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), and officers-in-charge (OCs) after reviewing their political affiliations. To ensure a completely neutral, impartial, and credible election, he has instructed the public administration and home ministries, and the Election Commission to consider whether such transfers can be conducted through a lottery system.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the transfers of SPs and OCs will be carried out through a lottery system. 

"As per the chief adviser's directive, we will conduct the transfers through a lottery system. Those currently in these positions will also be reassigned to different locations through the same process," the adviser said following a high-level meeting held at She secretariat. 

An official present at the meeting told TBS that the home affairs adviser informed the meeting that the army personnel could be withdrawn after one month, taking into account the law and order situation in the country.

"The army personnel are quite tired from being in the field for a long time. Therefore, the issue of withdrawing them from the field would be considered after one month, taking into account the law and order situation in the country," said the adviser.

He added that the army could be redeployed after the election schedule is announced.

In addition, it was decided that two gunmen would be provided to each returning officer and assistant returning officer.

Until now, candidates used to submit the list of polling agents on the night before the election. Yesterday's meeting discussed whether the list should be submitted earlier.

According to the minutes of the meeting, a ban will be imposed on the movement of all vehicles – including taxi cabs, microbuses, pickup trucks, trucks, launches, and engine-powered boats – in the electoral areas during the 15-day election period, except for those operating on designated routes.

In addition, the Chief Adviser has decided to enforce a seven-day nationwide ban on the movement of motorcycles in electoral areas during the election period.

During the election period of 15 days, licensed firearms holders will not be allowed to carry or display weapons. For this purpose, the home ministry will issue the necessary instructions. Law enforcement agencies, in consultation with local administration, will conduct targeted operations nationwide before the election to seize illegal weapons, explosives, and materials related to violence.

CCTV at centres, body cameras for law enforcers mandatory

The meeting minutes say ballot papers and other essential materials for the election to be sent to polling centres on the morning of the voting day to prevent recurrence of nighttime ballot stuffing incidents that occurred in past elections.

However, the Election Commission will dispatch the election equipment to the local administration the night before the election day.

Previously, on the eve of the 2018 national parliamentary election, after ballot papers had been delivered to polling centres, Awami League leaders and activists reportedly took control of the centres and stuffed ballot boxes with fake votes the night before the election. To prevent such incidents in the upcoming election, the Election Reform Commission has recommended that ballot papers be delivered to polling centres on the morning of election day.

In addition, it has been decided at the meeting to install CCTV cameras in all polling stations. Besides, wearing body cameras while discharging duty on the election day will be mandatory for law enforcement personnel on duty at polling stations.

The chief adviser has directed the Election Commission to arrange separate polling booths and support facilities for young voters aged 18 to 33, as well as to provide separate booths for female voters.

The meeting minutes state that to ensure the security of electoral areas, each Returning Officer (RO) will form a law enforcement cell within their jurisdiction. In consultation with the district or divisional security committee, they will develop a detailed security plan and inform the Election Commission.

Besides, SPs in the district level and police commissioners in metropolitan areas will coordinate with the ROs regarding the deployment of striking forces and other units. If necessary, according to the "In Aid to the Civil Power" provisions, the Army and other forces will be deployed and assigned responsibilities.

The meeting minutes further states, "A manual will be prepared and distributed for the public and officials on duty to prevent election irregularities. If any misconduct or offenses are committed by officials during the election, immediate justice must be ensured, and if found guilty, the incidents must be documented and recorded in a dossier."

At the meeting, it has been specially emphasised that during the election, judicial magistrates should be able to perform their legal duties completely independently and free from influence. Accordingly, a mobile court team consisting of judicial magistrates with judicial powers will be formed in each district and election area. These teams will be present on the field on election day as well as before and after, to control violence and violations of the code of conduct.

Additionally, according to the demands of the Returning Officer, mobile or striking forces led by executive magistrates will carry out responsibilities. A necessary number of law enforcement personnel will be deployed alongside the executive magistrates assigned for duties during the election period.

Meanwhile, while delivering his televised address before the nation marking the July Uprising Day on 5 August, Muhammad Yunus said the next parliamentary elections will be held in February 2026.