To ensure peace and order during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the government will deploy 60,000 army personnel, said Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor.
High-Level Meeting on Election Preparation
The announcement came on Monday (28 July) after a second election-related preparation meeting held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. The meeting was led by the Chief Advisor and attended by top officials.
প্রেস সচিব বলেন,
“নির্বাচন সামনে রেখে আইনশৃঙ্খলা পরিস্থিতি রিভিউ করা হয়েছে।”Translation: “The law-and-order situation has been reviewed ahead of the election,” said the Press Secretary.
He added that the current meeting followed a previous one chaired by the Chief Advisor, and several important decisions were made this time as well.
Misinformation Risk During Election Period
Shafiqul Alam also warned about possible misinformation and fake news that could spread before the election.
তিনি বলেন,
“গুজব আরও বাড়বে। ন্যাশনাল ইনফরমেশন সেন্টার এর মাধ্যমে দ্রুত ভুয়া তথ্য শনাক্ত ও খণ্ডন করার ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হবে।”Translation: “Rumors will likely increase. The National Information Center will work to detect and counter fake news quickly.”
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Special Training for Police
The meeting emphasized strong coordination among the army, police, and local administration. According to the Press Secretary, 1.5 lakh police members will receive special election training from September over a three-month period.
তিনি বলেন,
“সেপ্টেম্বর থেকে তিন মাসে ১.৫ লাখ পুলিশ সদস্যকে নির্বাচন বিষয়ক বিশেষ প্রশিক্ষণ দেওয়া হবে।”Translation: “From September, 1.5 lakh police officers will be given special election training over three months.”
Army as Striking Force
The army will serve as the striking force during the elections, ensuring quick action where needed.
শফিকুল আলম বলেন,
“নির্বাচনে ৬০ হাজার সেনা সদস্য মাঠে থাকবে।”Translation: “During the election, 60,000 army personnel will be deployed in the field.”
Election Date Yet to Be Finalized
When asked if the election date will be announced on 5 August, Shafiqul Alam responded:
তিনি বলেন,
“এ বিষয়ে এখনও কোনো সিদ্ধান্ত হয়নি।”Translation: “No decision has been made yet regarding this matter.”
Election Hotspots & Administrative Reshuffling
Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, the Deputy Press Secretary, said that the meeting also instructed authorities to identify election hotspots. There were also discussions about reshuffling administrative positions to ensure neutrality.
তিনি জানান,
“বৈঠকে নির্বাচনী হটস্পট চিহ্নিত করার নির্দেশ দেওয়া হয়েছে।”Translation: “Instructions were given in the meeting to identify electoral hotspots.”
Source: The Daily Campus