Government prepared to ensure free, fair and festive national elections: Home Adviser

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday reiterated the government’s preparedness to conduct the upcoming national election in a free, fair, impartial, peaceful and festive manner, with around nine lakh law enforcement personnel set to be deployed nationwide.

“Preparations are well in place to hold the next parliamentary election in a free, fair, peaceful, impartial and festive atmosphere,” he said.

The Home Adviser made the remarks after a divisional law and order meeting in Barishal, held at the auditorium of the Barishal Shilpakala Academy.

He expressed confidence that the general election would be held peacefully with the cooperation of all stakeholders. “With the support of all concerned, the election will take place in a very peaceful environment,” he added.

Responding to a question, he said government officials, including members of the local administration, were working impartially to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls.

Outlining the security arrangements, the adviser said about one lakh army personnel, 1.5 lakh police members, around six lakh Ansar and VDP members, five thousand personnel each from the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard, 37,000 members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and 10,000 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members would be deployed to maintain law and order during the election period.

In addition, members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) will also be deployed, he said.

Referring to security in the remote riverine areas of Barishal division, he said the Navy and Coast Guard had already been deployed there in large numbers. He added that 35 speedboats had been allocated—exceeding the initial demand of 16—to enable swift responses to any law and order situation.

Regarding vulnerable polling centres, the Home Adviser said additional forces would be deployed, along with the use of body-worn cameras, CCTV cameras, dog squads and drones.

He also said the Surakhya App would remain operational throughout the election period, noting that it had contributed to maintaining peace during Sharadiya Durga Puja at 33,000 puja mandaps nationwide, as well as during Saraswati Puja.

“InshaAllah, the upcoming election will also be held peacefully across the country, and the app will play an important role,” he said.

The meeting was attended by the Home Secretary, chiefs of the armed and law enforcement agencies, the Barishal divisional commissioner, the range deputy inspector general of police, deputy commissioners, police superintendents and other concerned officials.