February 26, 2026, 12:36 am
There is only one day left for the 13th National Parliament Election. The highest security alert has been issued across the country in view of this important election. Intelligence sources are predicting major bloody clashes including sabotage, violence, cyber attacks through various means to thwart the election. However, to avoid any unpleasant and unexpected incidents, about 900,000 members of the law enforcement agencies have already taken to the field.
Intelligence activities are underway to catch the criminals involved in sabotage, including the identified and identified top terrorists, extremists and saboteurs, armed men, bomb makers, etc. In particular, surveillance is being increased with the help of technology, and sufficient drones and CCTV cameras are being used to monitor the situation. In addition, the district round-the-clock Monitoring Operations Command and Control Room will also monitor the movements of suspicious voters, political leaders and activists, and the on-duty presiding officers and polling officers inside and outside the polling centers.
On the day of voting, the army, BGB, police and RAB patrol teams are working round the clock to ensure that voters can reach their homes safely from their homes outside the center and inside. The army, BGB, police and Ansar along with other law enforcement forces are on the ground to ensure the safety of voters. Navy and Coast Guard ships are on the coast and island areas to ensure the safety of voters. Air Force helicopters and state-of-the-art drones and other sophisticated equipment are ready in the air to avoid any sabotage. In addition, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will monitor the border with CCTV cameras around the clock as a vigilant guard. During the voting, the BGB has taken various steps to ensure that no provocative activities from India and Myanmar across the border can influence and confuse voters.
Army Activities: Brigadier General Dewan Mohammad Manzur Hossain, Director of the Military Operations Department of the Army Headquarters, said, “The Bangladesh Army is working to hold a fair election, but to keep the law and order situation normal and under control before the election. We have increased the number of troops deployed from 35,000 on January 10 to 50,000. Later, one lakh troops have been deployed since January 20.”
He said, Bangladesh Army has set up a total of 544 temporary camps in 411 upazilas and metropolitan cities in 62 out of 64 districts of the country, and we have been conducting regular patrol joint operations and increasing surveillance by setting up check posts, as well as recovering weapons and arresting various criminals including top terrorists. He said, in this election, much more technology is being used than in previous elections, security apps are being used. Police will have body-worn cameras in risky centers. In addition, law enforcement will use drones and other technologies so that any situation can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Air Force Activities: For the first time in this election, the Bangladesh Air Force has made extensive preparations. The Bangladesh Air Force has kept helicopters and drones ready to maintain normalcy in remote areas and conduct rapid monitoring. Preparations have been made to ensure security by using helicopters jointly with the Navy, especially in coastal and remote char areas including Bhola. The Air Force will be on standby to transport election equipment and respond quickly to maintain law and order in case of any emergency.
BGB Security: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has completed 100% preparations to conduct the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner. The BGB Director General has already visited almost every election base camp in the country. 1,210 platoons and more than 35,000 to 37,000 BGB members have been deployed across the country for the elections. They are serving in 489 out of 495 upazilas of 64 districts of the country. Surveillance has been strengthened to prevent smuggling, drugs and arms trafficking in all border areas, including the India and Myanmar borders. In those areas, the BGB is using modern technology and using helicopters, drones, body-worn cameras and dog squads (K-Nine) to deal with emergency situations. The Quick Response Force (QRF) and Rapid Action Team (RAT) have been kept ready at all times to take immediate action. In addition, special security posts and camps have been set up in remote hilly areas with the help of helicopters.
Security of coastal polling stations: Navy and Coast Guard ships have been deployed to ensure security in coastal and island areas such as Bhola, Hatiya, Sandwip, Cox’s Bazar and St. Martin. Of these, 5,000 Navy and 3,000 Coast Guard personnel will work on security.
Security at airports and railways: In addition to issuing maximum alert to prevent sabotage at airports across the country, special security measures have been taken on railways.
DMP Preparations: Yesterday, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Sajjad Ali said that there are a total of 2,131 polling stations in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area this year. The polling stations have been divided into two categories after reviewing the location, number of voters and security situation. At least four policemen will be deployed in important (1,614) polling stations and three in general (517) centers. Body-worn cameras will be installed to monitor the situation at the polling stations through the control room. There will be 180 striking teams and 510 mobile teams for security outside the polling stations. In addition, eight separate control rooms and four special control rooms will be set up in eight divisions of Dhaka Metropolitan City. Special Reserve Forces will be deployed at convenient locations. These forces, which are directly led by senior officers, can be deployed quickly to any place if needed. SWAT, Bomb Disposal Unit, Dog Squad, Crime Scene Van and Mounted Police will be deployed to deal with emergency situations.
He further said, “This election is very important to us for many reasons. We are committed to giving the nation a meaningful and universally acceptable election, free from the taint of how the police have been used in elections in the past. We are ready with steel-hard morale to take forward the sacrifices and blood that have brought the country to the brink of a peaceful election. Through you, I want to clearly tell the public that in this election, we will set a standard by performing our duties with the utmost professionalism and unquestionable impartiality, which will be a unique example for the future.”
Requesting the esteemed city residents, the DMP Commissioner said, “You should exercise your civil rights by going to the polling stations in an orderly manner, without fear or hindrance.”
