Bangladesh Elections 2024: Armed forces deployed nationwide ahead of 7 January polls

As Bangladesh gears up for 7 January national elections, the armed forces have been deployed in full strength across the country to assist the local civil administration. Armed forces in Bangladesh will remain on field duty for eight straight days from 3-10 January as per Section 126 of the constitution’s “In Aid to the Civil Power”. “The armed forces will be responsible for ensuring peace and order before, during, and after the election day,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release. Deployment of armed forces in Bangladesh The ISPR said upon request from the concerned returning officers and through coordination with stakeholders, the area-base deployment has been completed, said the ISPR. The army personnel have been deployed to 62 districts while Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will perform duty in 45 upazilas. Members of the Bangladesh Army will also be stationed at nodal points and other convenient places in every district, upazila, and metropolitan areas. Moreover, the army in coordination with the BGB and Coast Guard will perform duty in 47 bordering upazilas and 4 coastal upazilas respectively. The members of Bangladesh Navy will remain deployed in 19 coastal upazilas including in Bhola and Barguna districts. Bangladesh Air Forces (BAF) will provide helicopter assistance to polling stations in the hilly remote areas. Also, a favourable number of helicopters of the BAF have been kept ready to provide electoral assistance. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is heading to general polls in the country with a 14-party alliance led by her Awami League (AL). She is also the president of her political party AL. Earlier, Hasina had urged the alliance partners to be united before and after the polls. She even called upon the leaders to not withdraw the party candidates upon announcement.