Desk Report:
897,117 members of law enforcement agencies will serve in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections, said Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.).
The advisor gave this information while briefing journalists after the 20th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday (January 19, 2026) afternoon.
The advisor said that in the upcoming national elections, a total of 897,117 law enforcement personnel, including 100,000 Bangladesh Army, 5,000 Bangladesh Navy, 3,730 Bangladesh Air Force (1,250 ground force), 1,49,443 Bangladesh Police, 576,314 Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force, 37,453 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 3,585 Bangladesh Coast Guard, 7,700 RAB, and 13,390 members of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department as support services, will be deployed in the upcoming national elections. He said that law enforcement personnel will be deployed in two phases across the country to control the law and order situation in the elections. In this case, everything from polling station-based security to the operation of mobile and striking forces will be coordinated under the returning officer. He said that a circular in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 6, 2026.
Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) said that several important steps have been taken to make the national elections free, fair, impartial and peaceful. The advisor said that the total number of polling stations in the 13th National Parliament Election is 42,761. Of these, 8,780 are more important polling stations, 16,548 are important polling stations and 17,433 are general polling stations.
Of these, 25,000 Body Worn Cameras will be used by police members in more important and important polling stations. He said that CCTV will be installed in each polling station. For the first time, election training has been organized for various law enforcement agencies, which will end on January 20, 2026. He also said that another significant aspect of this year’s election is the use of drones. 418 drones of various law enforcement agencies will be used in the election. Moreover, various forces will use their dog squads to provide security and protection in the election.
The Home Affairs Advisor said that the most effective role in controlling law and order in this election will be played by the use of the ‘Election Security App-2026’, which has been prepared by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC). He said that the app will be linked to various law enforcement agencies, returning officers, assistant returning officers and the central control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It will play a role in immediately receiving complaints related to law and order and its quick redressal/control.
The Advisor also said that the Bangladesh Air Force will take measures to use helicopters to transport ballots and other election materials and officials and employees assigned to election duties in remote centers. He said that in order to create a fair and impartial election environment, various law enforcement agencies have been instructed to conduct intensive patrols for 04 (four) days before the election. Moreover, patrol activities in char areas and remote areas will be conducted intensively in coordination with various forces. The advisor said that any kind of mischief and activities that could hinder and influence the elections would be strictly suppressed by the interim government.
Members of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order participated in the meeting.
