Army, Navy, Air Force assure full readiness for polls

Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan heading to the meeting.

The chiefs of Bangladesh’s Army, Navy and Air Force have assured the Election Commission of their full preparedness and coordinated deployment to ensure a free, fair and peaceful national election, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said on 21 December.

The meeting with the EC was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.

“They have assured us that all necessary measures have been taken and that deployment will be made as required,” Sanaullah told reporters, emphasizing that coordination at the field level is strong and under full control.

Around 100,000 army personnel will be deployed, with one-third already on the ground. The remaining forces will be gradually deployed ahead of polling day, and deployments will be increased where necessary.

Discussions also focused on joint force operations, arms recovery, preventing terrorist activities, and local-level command and control mechanisms. District-level coordination cells were instructed to remain vigilant, and magistrates were urged to take swift legal action against offenders.

Sanaullah said the chiefs of the three services are fully committed to ensuring a credible and successful election, assuring the commission that security arrangements are in place across the country.