Bangladesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Tuesday said 8,770 of the country's 42,779 polling centres have been identified as high-risk, while around 16,000 centres are considered medium-risk ahead of the national parliamentary election. To ensure a secure voting environment, a three-tier security system has been put in place nationwide.
The IGP disclosed the information at a press briefing titled "Overall Law and Order Situation Ahead of the National Parliamentary Election" at the Police Headquarters Media Centre. Under the security plan, static forces will be deployed at each polling centre, mobile patrol teams will monitor surrounding areas, and striking forces will remain on standby to respond to emergencies, he said.
Addressing concerns over weapons and security threats, Baharul Alam said that during the July movement, 1,330 police firearms were looted, along with about 1,000 licensed weapons that had been deposited at police stations. Stressing that any illegal weapon poses a serious threat, he said law enforcement agencies have taken all necessary measures to mitigate risks.
Regarding licensed firearms, the IGP said 27,995 legal weapons have been deposited following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. A small number may remain unsubmitted as their owners are currently abroad, he added.
He said the government has made maximum preparations to hold what he described as the safest election in the country's history. A total of 187,603 police personnel, nearly 600,000 members of the Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and around 100,000 members of the armed forces have been deployed across the country.
