National Desk
The government has initiated an extensive security and operational preparation plan ahead of the upcoming general election, with Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury emphasizing the administration’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, and peaceful national poll scheduled for February 2026. The adviser highlighted that coordination among law enforcement, administrative agencies, and cooperation from all stakeholders, including the media, will be pivotal in ensuring a credible electoral process.
As part of the security arrangements, approximately nine lakh personnel from the police, Ansar, army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Navy, and Coast Guard are slated for deployment across the country. These forces will maintain law and order throughout the election period, ensuring safety at polling stations and surrounding areas. Election-specific training for personnel from all agencies has been organized to promote impartial and professional conduct during election duties.
To enhance transparency, the Home Ministry has decided to equip high-risk polling centers with body-worn cameras. The senior-most police officer at each center will operate the devices to monitor and document activities on-site. Additionally, measures to prevent partisan influence have been implemented through the transfer of Superintendents of Police (SPs), Officers-in-Charge (OCs), and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) via a lottery system conducted in the presence of media representatives. After the election schedule is announced, the Election Commission (EC) will assume full authority over postings and transfers of administrative and law enforcement officers.
Further measures under consideration include the potential exclusion of officials who served in the last three general elections to strengthen neutrality. Discussions are ongoing regarding deployment logistics, coordination, and operational requirements among district and upazila-level administrators, including Deputy Commissioners (DCs), UNOs, SPs, and OCs.
Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has directed police officers to maintain distance from political activities and actors during the election period. Speaking at the inauguration of an election-duty training program at Rajarbagh Police Lines on September 7, 2025, he emphasized integrity, patience, and a zero-tolerance approach to extortion and drug-related activities.
The Election Commission has issued a preliminary deployment outline for law enforcement agencies. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed that forces will develop detailed deployment plans covering static, mobile, and reserve components, alongside cyber security monitoring facilitated by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). Magistracy powers of the armed forces will remain in effect until the conclusion of the election period in February 2026.
A special nine-day security plan will be enforced, including five days before, one day during, and three days after the vote. Deployment will involve nearly 100,000 army personnel, 35,000 BGB members, 5,000 Navy personnel, 4,000 Coast Guard members, and approximately 8,000 RAB personnel. Ansar forces will play a central role, with around 550,000 personnel equipped with weapons and body cameras to ensure operational effectiveness and voter safety.
The Home Adviser assured that the election will be conducted peacefully and emphasized that political stability is largely a result of public engagement rather than individual actions. Addressing concerns regarding allegations of vote manipulation, he reiterated that the government will strive for a fair election, with the cooperation of the media.
Electoral training for law enforcement, including police, Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP), BGB, and military personnel, is scheduled to conclude by January 2026. The BGB will deploy a total of 1,210 platoons nationwide, with personnel stationed in all upazilas except Sandwip, Hatia, and Kutubdia, while operating independently in 60 out of 115 border upazilas. BGB training began on August 24, 2025, and will proceed in four phases, continuing until January 22, 2026, ensuring readiness for election duties across the country.
These measures collectively reflect the government’s systematic approach to maintaining law and order, promoting neutrality, and ensuring a transparent, credible, and peaceful national election in February 2026.