EC holds meeting with armed forces to ensure fair polls

Bangla Press Desk:  The Election Commission (EC) is holding a high-level meeting with representatives of the armed forces and other security agencies to finalise strategies for ensuring a free and fair 13th national parliamentary election. 

The meeting began at around 10:30am on Monday (20 October) at the EC headquarters.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin is chairing the meeting, attended by representatives of the chiefs of the three services, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of other security forces. Election commissioners and senior EC officials are also present.

According to EC officials, the discussions are focused on identifying challenges and outlining necessary actions. The Commission has identified a dozen key challenges, including security of polling centres, maintaining communal harmony, protecting minorities, coordination among law enforcement agencies, controlling illegal weapons, and countering misinformation on social media.

The meeting is also reviewing plans for deploying armed forces personnel during the election period, ensuring the security of regional election offices, and safeguarding foreign journalists and pre-election observers.

Other measures under discussion include controlling infiltration, securing remote and hill tract areas, transporting election materials, arranging helicopter support for polling officials, and banning drone camera use.

The EC is preparing to hold the election in the first half of February. The official election schedule is likely to be announced in the first half of December.

BP/SP