Khulna: Khulna Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Md Rezaul Haque has issued a stern warning that any violence or violation of the election code of conduct during the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections and referendum will be strictly addressed, irrespective of the offender’s influence. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies will not tolerate crimes such as ballot box snatching or obstruction of official duties and promised decisive action against anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process. The DIG made these remarks while addressing a media briefing at the Bagerhat District Police conference room on Monday night.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rezaul Haque stated that the police and other law enforcement agencies are on the highest alert to ensure a free, fair, impartial, and peaceful election. He warned that any police member found acting unethically, whether in uniform or plain clothes, would face personal responsibility, underscoring that any harm to voters would not be tolerated. The DIG assured that law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to ensure peaceful voting at risky polling centres, safe transportation of ballot papers and election materials, protection of minority communities, and prevention of activities by money influence, syndicates, and terrorists.
Rezaul Haque mentioned that a total of 2,000 police personnel and 7,000 Ansar members will be deployed across four parliamentary constituencies in Bagerhat district. Additionally, the Navy, RAB, BGB, Army, Coast Guard, and intelligence agencies will conduct joint surveillance. He highlighted that 547 polling stations have been equipped with CCTV coverage, and 75 micro, 63 Mahindra, and 12 Honda mobile patrol teams, along with nine striking forces, will be on the ground.
The DIG further informed that during the election period, nine judicial magistrates, 26 executive magistrates, and four Electoral Inquiry Committees, alongside joint district and sessions judges, will remain active in the field. He also noted that transactions exceeding Tk 1,000 through mobile financial service bKash have been temporarily restricted, as per Election Commission directives, to prevent illegal money transactions. Senior police officials and representatives of local journalists were present at the briefing.