EC plans 5-day security deployment for February polls

Highlights

• Inside the election security plan
• Law enforcers to be deployed from 9-13 February
• Ansar-VDP members to remain on duty for six days
• Over 700,000 security personnel planned nationwide
• Each polling centre to have 13-18 officers
• Misinformation monitoring to run seven days before and after polls
• Extra security ordered for returning, assistant returning officers
• Foreign observers invited; applications due by 17 January
• Two prospective candidates seek security from EC

The Election Commission (EC) has chalked out a special security plan to deploy law enforcement agencies across the country for five days around the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum on 12 February to ensure  polls security, according to the Election Commission (EC).

The decision was outlined in a special law-and-order circular issued today (18 December), signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain. 

Under the plan, law enforcers will be on duty from 9 February to 13 February, covering three days before polling day, election day, and one day after. 

The circular states that all forces, except the Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), will remain deployed for five days. Members of Ansar-VDP will be deployed for six days, starting four days before the election and continuing through polling day and the day after.

The EC said centre-based deployment of law enforcement agencies will begin on 9 February, while Ansar-VDP members will take up positions from 8 February. The commission will allocate the required budget for deployment in line with existing rules.

Security scale and deployment structure

According to EC estimates, the upcoming election will involve nearly 130 million voters, voting in about 43,000 polling centres with roughly 260,000 polling booths nationwide.

More than 700,000 members of law enforcement agencies will be involved in election security. Of them, around 550,000 will be Ansar-VDP members, while more than 90,000 will come from the armed forces. Police, RAB, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the Coast Guard will also be deployed.

Preliminary planning suggests that 13 to 18 law enforcement personnel will be assigned to each polling centre.

Beyond the five-day centre-based deployment, the EC said patrol teams, mobile and strike forces, and permanent and temporary check posts will remain active from the announcement of the election schedule until seven days after the election, subject to the law-and-order situation.

Measures to counter misinformation

To counter rumours and misinformation, the EC said a monitoring cell will remain active for seven days before and after polling day, working in coordination with law enforcement agencies. Special drives will be conducted to prevent the use of illegal arms, the spread of false information, and election-related violence.

The EC also instructed that additional security be provided at risk-prone polling centres, including CCTV coverage and live monitoring through body cameras where necessary.

Security at election offices and officials' residences

Separately, the EC has ordered enhanced security at the offices of returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) nationwide.

In a letter sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs today, the commission requested police deployment at these offices to protect sensitive election documents, materials, and officials. The letter, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain, noted that there are 69 returning officers and around 500 assistant returning officers across the country.

The EC has also sought additional security arrangements for the chief election commissioner, including an extra escort vehicle during the election period, and round-the-clock security for the residences and offices of the four election commissioners and the EC senior secretary.

International observers invited

The commission has invited international election observers and foreign media to monitor the election and referendum. Applications must be submitted by 17 January, in line with the International Election Observer and Foreign Media Policy 2025.

The EC said the move reflects its commitment to holding a free, fair, credible, and participatory election, with the entire election process remaining open to domestic and international observation.

Candidates seek security

Meanwhile, two prospective candidates have separately sought security from the EC, citing concerns over safety.

They include Kazi Reha Kabir Sigma, a potential independent candidate from Kishoreganj-4, and Asaduzzaman Fuaad, general secretary of Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and a prospective candidate from Barishal-3 (Babuganj–Muladi).

Both candidates submitted written applications to the commission on Wednesday after meeting senior EC officials.