Published : 20 Oct 2025, 06:08 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 02:37 PM
The Election Commission (EC) has begun a dialogue with representatives of law-enforcing agencies to ensure the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election is conducted in a free, participatory and fair manner.
The discussions began on Monday morning at the Election Bhaban in Dhaka's Agargaon.
It marks the first meeting between the EC, led by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, and top-level law-enforcing officials as part of the election preparations.
The meeting is expected to focus on maintaining law and order at polling centres, exchanging views on related issues and setting out pre-election strategies.
Four election commissioners and the EC secretary are participating in the dialogue.
Also present are Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, and representatives from the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Armed Forces Division, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Ansar and VDP, DGFI, NSI, NTMC, RAB, Special Branch, and CID.
Among the topics under discussion are the use of artificial intelligence, drone restrictions and the recovery of illegal weapons.
The meeting has a set agenda that includes:
• formulating an action plan for the security of polling officers and polling centres and maintaining a peaceful environment in the constituency
• coordinating the activities of law-enforcing agencies
• maintaining communal harmony and minority protection
Other priorities include preventing the use of illegal weapons:
• countering false or misleading information spread on social media using AI
• providing security for foreign journalists and election observers
The agenda also covers postal voting management, deployment of armed forces personnel to maintain order, control of illegal infiltrators, and security measures for regional, district and Upazila election offices.
The plan includes helicopter support for transporting election materials and officials in remote or hilly areas, taking peace and order measures based on intelligence advice, and banning the use of drone cameras.
The constitutional body is expected to hold the election before Ramadan, in the first half of February, with the schedule likely to be announced in early December.
The Election Commission launched its series of dialogues on Sept 28 with representatives of civil society and academia.
It followed with meetings on Oct 6 with media representatives and on Oct 7 with women leaders and election experts:
Through these dialogues, the Election Commission has been engaging stakeholders at the national level to discuss improving the law-and-order situation, strengthening the voting environment and ensuring a more assertive role for the EC.
The meeting with the law enforcement-agency is the latest in this ongoing series of consultations.
