DMP pledge 'foolproof' security for Feb 12 election
Hundreds of mobile teams and control rooms activated to keep polling centres safe.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali today (9 February) said authorities have put in place extensive security measures to ensure the national election and referendum on 12 February are held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
"We are working with dedication and sincerity. We want to set an example by ensuring a meaningful and widely acceptable election, overcoming the stigma of law enforcement misuse in past polls," while briefing journalists at the DMP Media Centre, adding that a "foolproof" security plan had been prepared and would be implemented with professionalism and neutrality.
He said police would focus on maintaining law and order, ensuring security at polling centres, protecting election officials and materials, safeguarding returning officers' offices and enabling voters to cast ballots without obstruction.
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To support real-time monitoring, DMP will deploy 180 striking teams and 510 mobile teams across the capital, along with body-worn cameras at sensitive polling centres. Eight control rooms have been set up in DMP's eight crime divisions, alongside four additional special control rooms.
Special Reserve Force units will remain stationed at strategic locations under senior supervision, while elite teams, including SWAT, the Bomb Disposal Unit, Dog Squad, Crime Scene Vans and mounted police will stay on standby.
On risk assessment, Sajjat Ali said polling centres have been categorised as 'important' and 'general' in line with Election Commission guidelines. Of the total, 1,614 centres have been marked important and 517 general. An additional 37 centres in hard-to-reach areas, including Kamrangirchar, Satarkul and Beraid, will receive special deployment, with seven officers assigned to each.
He said there was currently no security threat and described the overall law and order situation in Dhaka as stable.
Addressing concerns over neutrality, the commissioner said the force had not worked in favour of any political party during his 15 months in office and had maintained professional impartiality.
He also said the security plan covered journalists, doctors, engineers and other professionals, urging voters to come to polling centres fearlessly and peacefully to exercise their civic rights.
