Staff Correspondent

Over 80,000 members of the Bangladesh Army will be deployed during the upcoming national election, said Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

Besides, members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other forces will also be deployed to ensure security, he said at a press briefing after inspecting the polling center at Teghoria High School in Keraniganj (Dhaka-3 parliamentary constituency). 

The Home Affairs Adviser said that whereas previously two Ansar members were assigned to each polling station an additional armed Ansar member will remain deployed to enhance the security of the presiding officers.

To ensure peaceful elections we are taking all necessary preparations, he said.

The adviser said holding a peaceful election depends on various factors including the participation and cooperation of political parties, the Election Commission, the administration, law enforcement agencies, and above all the people.

Without their support, it will be difficult to hold the election in a peaceful and fair manner, he said.

The adviser also said the visit of the poling centre is aimed to explore the possibility of setting up separate booths in the next election for young voters who could not vote in the last three elections as well as separate booths for male and female voters.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus recently announced that the 13th national parliamentary election will be held in February before Ramadan.