The government has decided to deploy law enforcement agencies for seven days surrounding polling day to ensure that the 13th National Parliamentary Election is held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The decision was announced in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Political-6 Wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the circular, the second phase of election-related deployment, termed “poll-centric deployment”, will remain in force from February 8 to February 14. Including travel time, members of the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and Ansar battalions will perform duties as mobile and striking forces to maintain law and order in the electoral areas during this period.

Force-wise deployment and responsibilities

Armed Forces

The armed forces will be deployed from February 8 to 14 to assist the local civil administration. They will be stationed at convenient locations or nodal points in districts, upazilas and metropolitan areas, from where they will conduct patrols and operational activities.

BGB and RAB

BGB and RAB will operate as mobile and striking forces. If necessary, they will be allowed to use helicopters, drones and dog squads.

Polling centre security

Special security teams comprising police and Ansar members will be deployed at every general and important (vulnerable) polling centre. At important centres outside metropolitan areas, three armed police personnel will be deployed, while four armed police members will be stationed at important centres within metropolitan areas.

Village police and VDP

Village police or dafaders will be deployed at each polling centre for seven days. Marginal VDP members will be engaged for a total of eight days, including training.

Restrictions and special measures

The circular states that joint forces will conduct special drives to recover illegal arms and arrest terrorists on polling day as well as before and after voting.

Motorcycle movement will be restricted from midnight on February 10 to midnight on February 13. In addition, the movement of taxicabs, microbuses and trucks will be banned from midnight on February 11 to midnight on February 12. The carrying and display of firearms by all licensed holders will remain prohibited until February 14.

To ensure round-the-clock monitoring, a special ‘Law and Order Situation Monitoring Cell’ will remain operational at the Election Commission Secretariat and the offices of returning officers from February 10 to February 14, the circular added.