The government will deploy 897,117 members of law enforcement agencies in two phases across the country to maintain law and order during the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday.
Speaking to journalists after the 20th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order, the adviser said the phased deployment would cover the pre-election period, polling day and the immediate post-election phase.
Security at polling centres, mobile patrols and striking forces will all operate under a coordinated command structure led by the respective returning officers, he added.
The adviser said the deployment would involve personnel from all major security agencies, including the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force, alongside the police, Ansar and Village Defence Force, Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion, and Fire Service and Civil Defence in a supporting role.
He added that a home ministry circular outlining the law and order arrangements for the election was issued on 6 January.
Jahangir said that the interim government has taken a series of measures to ensure the election is free, fair, neutral and peaceful. Of the 42,761 polling centres nationwide, authorities have identified 8,780 as highly sensitive, 16,548 as sensitive and 17,433 as general centres.
Police will use 25,000 body-worn cameras at highly sensitive and sensitive centres, while CCTV cameras will be installed at all polling stations.
He said election-specific training for members of different law enforcement agencies has been introduced for the first time and is scheduled to conclude on 20 January.
Another notable feature of the election security plan is the use of technology, with 418 drones to be deployed by various agencies for monitoring, alongside dog squads for enhanced security and surveillance.
The adviser said maintaining law and order during the polls would be further supported by the “Election Security App-2026,” developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre.
The app will link law enforcement agencies, returning and assistant returning officers, and the home ministry’s central control room, enabling real-time reporting of law and order incidents and faster response.
He added that Bangladesh Air Force helicopters will be used to transport ballot papers, election materials, and polling officials to remote and hard-to-reach areas.
To ensure a calm environment, law enforcement agencies have been instructed to conduct intensive patrols across the country for four days before the election, with coordinated operations in char and remote regions.
The adviser warned that any attempt to disrupt or influence the election process would be dealt with strictly by the interim government.
Members of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order were present at the meeting.
