Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said that law enforcement agencies are taking to the field with maximum preparedness to ensure a fair, peaceful and impartial election.

He made this statement to reporters after inspecting an election-focused mock exercise organized at the BGB 5th Battalion ground in Peelkhana today (Wednesday).

The CEC said, “I saw a very beautiful exercise here today. It was done completely considering our electoral culture. The BGB trained keeping in mind all conceivable dimensions of the types of incidents that usually occur in elections or the way elections are conducted. I am very happy about this.”

He also said that election duty does not come regularly. Since it comes every 4 to 5 years, the forces have to undergo special training. BGB’s regular work is in the border areas. The police are providing election-based training in 130 centers. I have seen the Ansar-BDB exercise. They are also undergoing training. This exercise of BGB will play a very important role. So that they can perform their duties properly. For that, they are preparing members.

The CEC said, “Every law enforcement agency is preparing responsibly with its members. We hope that this training will have a special impact on maintaining law and order in the elections. I hope that together with all law enforcement agencies, journalists and 130 million voters, we will achieve a fair election.”

Responding to a question about the current law and order situation in the country, the CEC said, “I will not say that the situation has reached a perfect level. However, compared to the situation on August 5, 2024, there has been a lot of improvement now. You can sleep peacefully, you can move on the roads. It will improve further as the election date approaches. There will be another meeting with the law and order forces on the 30th and the deployment strategy will be finalized on that day. If the police want, one or two can be deployed. But the army cannot be deployed like this. The army works in a contingent form. Therefore, the decision to deploy them will be taken after due consideration.”

Regarding the announcement of a party to boycott the election, the CEC said, “All kinds of measures will be taken against those who have announced to boycott. Journalists, voters, countrymen – everyone must work together to prevent the undesirable situation.”

Regarding the opportunity for government advisors to participate in the election, he said, “It is a policy-making matter for the government. The Election Commission will carry out its duties according to the law.”

Regarding risky polling stations, he said, “We have done a risk assessment. Forces will be deployed in three zones – red, yellow, and green.”

Meanwhile, the BGB has said that 1,210 BGB platoon members will be deployed across the country in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections. BGB members will be deployed in all upazilas except Sandeep, Hatia and Kutubdia. Out of 115 upazilas along the border, BGB members will be deployed in 60 upazilas alone.

BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, along with senior officers of the force and officials of the Election Commission, were present at the mock exercise.