Bangladesh has mobilised over 800,000 personnel for comprehensive security ahead of the 13th parliamentary polls on February 12, ensuring a peaceful electoral process amid risks of disruption.
The Bangladesh election security preparations intensified as the interim government announced deployments starting February 8, 2026. Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury detailed the measures during a briefing on January 5, 2026, at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka. Over 800,000 law enforcement and armed forces personnel will cover 43,000 polling stations nationwide to prevent sabotage and maintain order.
Bangladesh election security holds vital importance for South Asia. Stable polls in this densely populated nation foster democratic continuity and curb potential unrest that could affect neighbouring countries. Economic stability and investor confidence rely on peaceful transitions, particularly in the wake of recent political shifts.
Bangladesh 13th Election: Key Deployment Plans
Authorities plan a seven-day security deployment in Bangladesh from February 8 to February 14. This covers pre-poll, polling day, and post-poll phases. The Bangladesh 13th election involves 127.5 million voters across 300 constituencies and 260,000 booths.
The Home Ministry circular outlines a two-phase approach. Phase one focuses on continuous monitoring. Phase two centres on voting day operations. Mobile and striking forces will patrol districts, upazilas, and police stations.
Deployment varies by location. In general areas outside metropolises, standard polling centres get two armed police and three Ansar members. Important centres receive three armed police and three Ansar. Metropolitan areas assign three armed police and three Ansar to standard centres, with four armed police for important ones. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts and remote zones, standard centres have two armed police and three Ansar personnel, while important ones have three armed police and three Ansar personnel. Presiding officers in these areas each gain one armed Ansar for protection.
All centres include 10 Ansar personnel, comprising four women and six men, who are equipped with sticks for crowd control. This security deployment in Bangladesh aims to deter intimidation and ensure voter safety.
Bangladesh Polls 2026: Preventive Measures Against Violence
The Election Commission issued a circular on January 8, 2026, to curb vote rigging and terrorism. It directs actions against false voting, abduction, force, intimidation, weapon displays, canvassing within 400 yards of centres, unruly behaviour, and ballot secrecy breaches.
Home Adviser Chowdhury stated, “We are firmly committed to maintaining peace and public order. The highest priority has been given to keeping the law and order situation stable and undisrupted, particularly in view of the forthcoming elections.”
He added: “Strict measures will be enforced during political programmes and election campaigns, and any attempt to sabotage the polls will be dealt with firmly.”
Law enforcement gains authority to enter any site, including polling centres, to avert violence. Intelligence surveillance has strengthened, with enhanced coordination among agencies: border monitoring and social media oversight target provocative content.
A coordination cell ensures inter-agency cooperation. A 24/7 team, accessible via the emergency number 999, handles election complaints, forwarding them to the Home Ministry for swift resolution. Joint operations and checkpoints will be in place throughout.
Bangladesh Security Deployment: Involved Agencies and Numbers
The Bangladesh security deployment draws from multiple forces. The police have 150,000 members. Ansar and Village Defence Party provide 550,000. The armed forces add 100,000 personnel under civil aid provisions. Border Guard Bangladesh supplies 35,000. Rapid Action Battalion, Armed Police Battalion, and Coast Guard support operations, with the latter focusing on coastal regions.
Chowdhury emphasised: “All law enforcement agencies have been instructed to operate with heightened vigilance and close coordination at the field level throughout the election period.”
Training for election staff continues to boost field effectiveness. This comprehensive election security plan for Bangladesh addresses risks from communal tensions and sabotage.
Background on Bangladesh Elections
Bangladesh has held 12 parliamentary elections since its independence in 1971. The 12th in 2024 faced controversies over fairness. The 2025 interim government, formed in response to unrest, pledged reforms to ensure credible polls.
Past elections saw violence, with deaths and disruptions in 2014 and 2018. The Bangladesh 13th election follows a roadmap that includes stakeholder dialogues starting from September 2025. Voter turnout historically averages 80%, but security lapses reduced participation in contested polls.
The 2026 Bangladeshi polls mark a pivotal moment following the July 2025 uprising. Reforms include updated voter lists and transparent candidate scrutiny. Over 131 appeals for candidacy restoration were filed by January 9, 2026.
International observers, including those from ANFREL and IRI, have assessed preparations. Their reports note improved institutional frameworks but emphasize the need for vigilant security.
What’s Next for Bangladesh Election Security
Campaigns intensify until February 10, with monitoring for code violations. Postal ballots for expatriates must be completed by January 9.
Post-poll, forces remain until February 14 to handle disputes. Results expected by February 13, with potential challenges in tribunals.
Ongoing operations like Devil Hunt Phase-2, which arrested 14,569 by January 4, continue to recover arms and curb threats.
Experts anticipate a smooth election if Bangladesh’s security holds. International support for training bolsters readiness.
The fortified Bangladesh election security framework aims to deliver a benchmark for fair democracy in the region.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, January 10th, 2026
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