Over 187,000 police personnel to be deployed for national election and referendum

PNN News Desk, Dhaka 

The police have put in place comprehensive and coordinated security measures across the country ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated that a total of 187,603 police personnel will be deployed in the field to ensure election security.

He shared this information at a press conference on Tuesday at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Central Command and Control Center, aimed at outlining the overall law and order situation for the elections and referendum.

The IGP said a broad security plan has been developed, taking into account past election experiences, stakeholder feedback, and guidance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The main objective is to ensure peaceful, fair, and festive voting conditions.

The security measures will be implemented in three layers:

1. Static police force at all 83,789 polling stations.

2. Mobile police teams for regular patrolling and monitoring.

3. Strike forces at critical points to respond to any emergency situations.

The use of technology in election security has significantly increased. According to IGP Alam, 80–90 percent of polling centers have CCTV cameras installed, and body cameras will be used in high-risk areas. Drones will also be deployed at the district level as required.

In addition to the police, the armed forces, BGB, and Ansar personnel play key roles in election security. The largest of these is the Ansar force, with nearly six lakh members.

To prevent misuse of firearms before the election, licensed weapons have been collected; so far, 27,995 licensed weapons have been deposited at police stations.

IGP Alam also mentioned that from December 11 to February 9, a total of 317 violent incidents were reported nationwide, resulting in 603 injuries and 5 deaths. He expressed regret over these deaths and emphasized police efforts to reduce violence.

He concluded by saying that coordinated action among all forces, along with public cooperation, will make peaceful and acceptable elections possible.