During upcoming elections, the Election Commission (EC) has organised security, taking into consideration geographical features. The 300 electoral areas will be divided in three categories: general area, metropolitan area and coastal and remote area. Law enforcement members will be deployed as per the geographical categorisation.
In general areas, one police member along with 13 other officials, in metropolitan area three police and 12 officials and in remote, hilly parts, 2 police and 12 members may be deployed.
For the first time, village police members have been given the duty to guard voting centres.
Outside the centres, army and military members will be present as a striking force. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and Armed Police Battalion will also carry out vigilance as striking force.
In addition, to control law and order and to ensure adherence to the electoral code, more than 1500 judicial and executive magistrates will be on the field.
To control the field condition, more than six lakh law enforcing members will be deployed.
EC will also be sitting with heads of law enforcing agencies and returning officers on Dec 13 to finalise work-plan and assess the existing situation.
Since there won’t be any vote boycotting plan, it’s believed that violence will be much less. The armed forces will be deployed as ‘in aid to civil power’ and will be on the ground for ten days prior and after polls. Army will be stationed on 24 December, remaining till Jan 2.
BGB, Coast Guard, RAB and armed police battalion members will be on the field from 26 December and stay till Jan 1. They will be posted at district, upazila and other strategic points.
If the returning officer wants then other law enforcers can be provided and they cannot enter the vote counting room without the permission of the returning or presiding officers.
On the day before voting, on Dec 29, 640 judicial magistrates will work on the field and will be on the ground for four days, including two days after the election.
According to the plan of EC, 16 members will be guarding the voting centre in metropolitan areas. Of them, three will be armed police, 12 Ansar members and one village police. In high risk areas, police members will be raised to 18.
Law enforcers will be ordered to carry out diligent patrolling and metal detectors can be used in risky centres.
There will be restrictions on movement on voting day. For the first time, village police will be deployed. The country has 4.5 million village police members who will be stationed one day prior voting and remain in post on election day.