Bangladesh is preparing for one of its most protected general elections. Authorities have identified more than half of the country's polling stations as at risk for possible disruptions. Officials report that nearly 90 per cent of voting centres will use CCTV cameras for monitoring. Additional security forces will be present throughout the country, especially in the capital, Dhaka.
According to police estimates, about 24,000 of the nearly 43,000 polling centres are classified as "high" or "moderate" risk. In Dhaka, 1,614 out of 2,131 centres have been marked as sensitive, according to a Deccan Chronicle report. However, the Army claims that it sees only two centres in the capital as particularly dangerous.
Security arrangements being made
Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah said that security arrangements were being made after assessing local conditions. During a media briefing on Tuesday night, he mentioned that deployment plans depended on the sensitivity of each area, as reported by India TV.
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"Security deployment is being made based on local sensitivity assessments," Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah was quoted s saying by Deccan Chronicle.
He added that the Election Commission (EC) expected law enforcement agencies to maintain a peaceful environment during and after voting. Sanaullah said the Commission was generally happy with the law and order situation, noting that "compared to any time in the past, we are in a better position now".
'Nearly 9,58,000 law enforcement personnel deployed across country'
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah said on Tuesday that nearly 9,58,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed across the country. Their goal is to ensure a free, fair and impartial national election and referendum on Thursday.
"Additionally, for the first time, we are using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), drones and body-worn cameras for election security," he was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle.
He stated that voting will take place in 299 constituencies on Thursday. Voting in Sherpur-3 has been postponed because a candidate passed away there.
A total of 2,098 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates will fulfill their duties during the election. The Election Commissioner was further quoted as saying, "For the first time, UAVs, drones and body-worn cameras are being used for law enforcement. Around 25,000 body-worn cameras will be deployed on the field. Some of these are IP-based for live feed, while others will record locally. Moreover, for continuous monitoring, CCTV cameras have already been installed in over 90 per cent of centres."
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He mentioned that voting will continue from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm. However, voters present at the polling centre by 4.30 pm will still be allowed to cast their votes. Voting will occur at a total of 42,659 centres.
'Most-technologically monitored election'
Officials called the upcoming polls the most technologically monitored election in Bangladesh's history. For the first time, police officers at selected locations will wear body cameras. Authorities also stated that the number of law enforcement personnel deployed would be the highest ever for a national election.
According to EC figures, first-time voters make up about 3.58 per cent of the country's 127.7 million registered voters. The election is being held alongside a referendum on an 84-point reform proposal. The main contest is expected to be between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami.
