Dhaka, Jan 24 (V7N) — Of the 2,131 polling stations in Dhaka city, law enforcement agencies have identified 695 as very risky and 1,133 as risky ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum.

Police officials said that in case of any disorder or irregularity at polling centers, body-worn cameras will be used to record incidents, and immediate legal action will be taken after reviewing the footage. Many polling stations are also under CCTV surveillance.

Despite these measures, concerns persist among sections of voters about whether they will be able to exercise their voting rights freely. However, election analysts believe that a fair election is possible if law and order can be maintained effectively.

In the last three national elections, the role of law enforcement agencies — including the police — faced widespread criticism, as many voters were unable to cast their ballots freely. This time, the interim government has taken multiple initiatives to ensure neutrality within the police force.

According to police sources, Superintendents of Police in all 64 districts have been appointed through a lottery system, and Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of police stations nationwide have been reshuffled in the same manner. In addition, around 150,000 police personnel have received training on election-related dos and don’ts.

Police Headquarters reported that out of 42,761 polling stations across the country, 17,556 have been categorized as risky, with Dhaka having the highest number. Deployment will vary by risk level: three police members at very risky centers, two at risky centers, and one at general centers.

Police officials reiterated that any irregularity or chaos would be dealt with using evidence from body cameras and CCTV footage. Even so, public opinion remains mixed. While some voters expressed confidence in the voting environment, others remain cautious.

One voter said, “If I see a suitable environment for voting, I will go to vote.” Another remarked, “This time the environment seems good. We will go without fear and cast our votes.”

Security analysts have warned of potential threats such as looting, use of illegal weapons, and the spread of rumors. Crime analyst Dr. Touhidul Haque said that unresolved risks could resurface at any time, particularly the past tendency of forcefully occupying polling stations.

To address these concerns, police said that nationwide operations to recover illegal weapons have been intensified. Alongside this, Operation Devil Hunt (Phase-2) is currently underway.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson DC (Media) Talebur Rahman said that security planning has been tailored based on the location and risk level of each polling station.

“We have categorized polling stations accordingly and will deploy police members based on those categories. In addition, separate security plans are in place for before, during and after the elections,” he said.

Along with the police, members of the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Ansar will also be deployed to ensure security.

It is worth noting that Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum on state reforms will be held on February 12.

END/SMA/AJ