Members of the armed forces will remain deployed across the country for eight days from today (Wednesday) to assist the local civil administration in holding a free, fair and peaceful election scheduled for 7 January 2024.
The forces will assist the Election Commission and local civil administration till January 10 to ensure peace, and control law and order before, after, and during the voting day, said a press release sent by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Tuesday.
According to Section 126 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the armed forces have been deployed under the “In Aid to the Civil Power”, the release said.
Members of the Armed Forces will be stationed at nodal points and other convenient places in every district, upazila and metropolitan area, it said.
Upon request from the returning officers concerned and through coordination with stakeholders, the area-based deployment has been completed, said the ISPR.
The release said the army will be deployed in 62 districts, while the Bangladesh Navy will perform duties in 19 upazilas, including two coastal districts -- Bhola and Barguna. Border Guard Bangladesh will be on duty in 45 upazilas in border areas. In addition, the army
will perform joint duties with the BGB in 47 upazilas along the border and Coast Guard members in four coastal upazilas, the release said.
The Bangladesh Air Force will provide necessary helicopter support to the polling centres in remote hilly areas, added the media release.
Additionally, an adequate number of helicopters from the Bangladesh Air Force have been kept ready to provide assistance in case of emergencies during the election.
Besides, a joint coordination cell with several ministries, divisions, and representatives from the law enforcing agencies has been set up at the armed forces division, which will remain effective till January 10.
The armed forces have taken all-out preparation to provide necessary assistance to ensure peace and order centering the 12th national parliamentary election.
Earlier, members of law enforcing agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country including the capital from December 29 to maintain peace and order for the upcoming 12th National Parliament elections to be in a free, fair and peaceful environment.
They will perform duties for 13 days from December 29 to January 10 to assist the civil administration during the parliamentary polls.
According to EC around 7.5 lakh members of different law enforcement agencies will be active during the 12th national elections. Of them 5.16 lakh members of the Ansar, 1.82 lakh members of the police and RAB, 2,355 Coast Guard officials and 46, 876 members of the BGB.
The Election Commission sources said there are more than 42,000 polling stations in this election of about 12 crore voters. 15 to 17 security personnel will be deployed per polling station.
Besides, 300 Judicial Enquiry Committees are working on the field to maintain the electoral code of conduct while 802 executive magistrates will remain active with mobile court operations.
According to the EC official sources, the number of total polling centres is 42,103 and total voters are 11,96,81,633. Among the total voters, 6,07,71,000 are male, 5,89,19,202 are female and 825 are masculine gendre.
Besides, a total of 9,09,529 officials and employees are going to be engaged in the polls duties. Of them 4,06,364 are presiding officers, 2,87,722 assistant presiding officers and 5,75,443 polling officers.