Dhaka, 20 January 2026 – A total of 897,117 members of law enforcement and security forces will be deployed across the country to ensure a free, fair, neutral, and peaceful 13th National Parliamentary Election, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday. He made the announcement while briefing journalists after the 20th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Secretariat. According to the adviser, the deployment will include:
Bangladesh Army: 100,000
Bangladesh Navy: 5,000
Bangladesh Air Force: 3,730 (including 1,250 for ground operations)
Bangladesh Police: 149,443
Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP): 576,314
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB): 37,453
Bangladesh Coast Guard: 3,585
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB): 7,700
Fire Service and Civil Defence (support services): 13,390
He said law enforcement forces would be deployed in two phases nationwide, with all election-related security arrangements coordinated under the authority of the respective Returning Officers. A circular regarding the deployment was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 6 January 2026, he added. The adviser stated that there will be 42,761 polling centres across the country, of which:
8,780 are classified as highly important,
16,548 as important, and
17,433 as general centres.
To enhance transparency and accountability, 25,000 body-worn cameras will be used by police personnel at highly important and important polling centres. In addition, CCTV cameras will be installed at every polling centre. For the first time, comprehensive election-specific training has been conducted for all law enforcement agencies, which will conclude on 20 January 2026. Another new feature of this election will be the use of 418 drones by various law enforcement agencies for surveillance and security monitoring. Dog squads will also be deployed to strengthen security. The adviser highlighted that the most effective tool in maintaining law and order during the election will be the “Election Security App 2026”, developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). The app will connect law enforcement agencies, Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, and the central control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs, enabling real-time reporting and rapid response to any law-and-order incidents. He further said the Bangladesh Air Force would provide helicopter support to transport election materials and officials to remote and hard-to-reach areas. Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to conduct intensive patrols for four days prior to the election, with special emphasis on riverine, char, and other inaccessible regions. The Home Affairs Adviser warned that any attempt to disrupt or influence the election process would be dealt with strictly and decisively by the interim government. Members of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order were present at the meeting.
