Dhaka, Feb 08 (V7N)- A total of 1,051 executive magistrates have been deployed across the country from Sunday (February 8) to oversee law and order during the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum. They will remain in the field until February 14.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud disclosed the information to the media on Saturday (February 7). He also said that additional members of the Army and other law enforcement agencies have begun election duties from Sunday.

“The army is already in the field, and more members are joining from today. They will officially remain deployed for seven days before and after the election,” Machud said.
“We have held coordination meetings with all law enforcement agencies. They have assured us that the overall law and order situation is favorable and conducive to holding the election.”

The Election Commissioner further said that all ballot boxes have already been dispatched to the districts, and returning officers are currently receiving them. “Preparations for voting are now in full swing,” he added.

Over 9.7 Lakh Law Enforcers to Perform Election Duties

Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a circular, announced that members of the Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), and Coast Guard will be deployed to ensure a free, fair, peaceful, and impartial election. Members of the Armed Forces will be deployed under In Aid to Civil Power to assist the civil administration.

According to the circular, a total of more than 970,000 law enforcement personnel will be engaged in election duties. The deployment includes:

  • Ansar & VDP: 576,483

  • Army: 103,000

  • Navy: 5,000

  • Air Force: 3,730

  • Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB): 37,453

  • Coast Guard: 3,585

  • Police: 187,603

  • Rapid Action Battalion (RAB): 9,349

  • Chowkidar–Dafadar: 45,820

The circular stated that the Army, BGB, Coast Guard, RAB, Police, Armed Police Battalion (APBN), and Ansar Battalion will function as mobile and striking forces in constituencies. BGB, RAB, APBN and Ansar Battalion will operate at district, upazila and police station levels, while the Coast Guard will be responsible for coastal areas.

All deployed forces will operate under the supervision of the Returning Officers, the circular added.

END/SMA/AJ