EC issues special circular to maintain law and order during polls
The Election Commission (EC) has issued comprehensive special circular outlining measures to maintain law and order for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025, scheduled for February 12. The circular, signed by Deputy Secretary (Election Management-2) of the EC Secretariat Mohammad Manir Hossain today, emphasises the need to ensure a peaceful, fair, free and festive election environment.
It directs all concerned authorities to maintain overall law and order so that political parties and candidates can carry out their activities without hindrance, and voters can cast their ballots peacefully and with ease. According to the circular, the armed forces have already been deployed in support of the civil administration and will remain deployed throughout the election period.
The government has granted magisterial powers to the military, which will remain in force until February 28. The EC noted that several coordination meetings have already been held with the heads and representatives of relevant ministries, departments, forces and organisations, and that the newly issued guidelines are a continuation of those efforts. The Election Commission has announced a comprehensive security and monitoring plan to ensure a peaceful and credible election process. The operational period will run from December 12 until February 14, 2026, covering the announcement of the election schedule through two days after polling.
A limited-size operational cell will be set up initially, becoming fully functional for seven days around polling—four days before voting, election day, and two days after. Full-scale deployment will focus on maintaining law and order and countering misinformation. Most security forces will be deployed for five days during the voting period (three days before polling, election day, and one day after), while Bangladesh Ansar and the Village Defense Team will serve for six days (four days before election, election day and one day after election).
Permanent and temporary check posts, mobile patrols, reserved forces, and area-based deployments will remain active throughout the election period, with striking forces on full alert, especially on polling day. The Commission said funding will be provided as per existing rules and emphasized that the coordinated deployment aims to ensure smooth, free, and fair elections across the country. The EC has outlined a comprehensive law and order framework aimed at ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election, placing special emphasis on voter safety, equal opportunity for political participation, and the secure conduct of polling operations.
According to EC circular, maintaining a peaceful and normal law and order situation will be the top priority throughout the election period. Measures will be taken to ensure that all political parties and candidates can campaign and carry out election-related activities in line with the code of conduct, without intimidation or obstruction. The plan highlights the importance of enabling voters to cast their ballots freely and with peace of mind. Security will be strengthened at polling stations, control centers, and other key facilities, while special arrangements will be made to ensure the safe transportation and storage of election materials and ballots, including postal ballots.
Authorities also stressed the need to counter rumors and misinformation that could disrupt the electoral process, as well as to ensure the safety of minority and marginalized communities irrespective of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity. Provisions will be made to facilitate voting for the elderly, persons with disabilities, the injured, and the sick, so they can exercise their franchise without hardship. The security of all officials involved in the election process—including presiding and polling officers, judicial and executive magistrates, and members of surveillance, monitoring, and law and order committees—will be ensured.
Centrally deployed police and Ansar-VDP personnel will provide round-the-clock security to presiding officers from the moment they receive election materials until results are handed over to the returning officers. To coordinate these efforts, a Coordination Cell at the Election Commission will maintain continuous communication with relevant stakeholders. The Ministry of Home Affairs, as the lead ministry, will formulate and supervise detailed law and order plans for both pre- and post-election periods, in line with the code of conduct, the circular mentioned.
At the field level, law and order committees and force coordination cells at divisional, district, upazila, and constituency levels will assess risks, identify needs, and determine deployment strategies. Assistance will be provided on a priority basis in response to requests from returning officers and presiding officers. Special attention will be given to sensitive and high-risk polling stations, with enhanced deployment of law enforcement personnel. Authorities will also conduct operations to recover illegal weapons, prevent their use, and counter any activities that could disrupt the elections, including terrorist threats, said the circular.
Where feasible, CCTV coverage will be installed at polling centers. In addition, live feeds from IP-enabled body-worn cameras used by field personnel will be displayed at the Election Commission’s Coordination Cell to strengthen real-time monitoring. According to the EC circular, the integrated approach, involving continuous inter-ministerial and inter-force coordination, is designed to ensure discipline, transparency, and public confidence in the electoral process.
