The government will deploy armed Ansar members to ensure the safety of presiding officers during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after a law-and-order meeting at the Secretariat, he said Ansar members traditionally play a key role in election security, but for the first time, presiding officers will have armed guards. “Sometimes presiding officers come under attack. This time, they will have armed protection to prevent such incidents,” he stated.
Unlike previous elections, where each polling center had four female and six male unarmed Ansar members along with two armed personnel, the upcoming polls will see three armed Ansar members assigned for presiding officer security. Additional police and RAB deployments are also planned.
On election violence concerns, the adviser said the responsibility for peaceful polls lies not only with security forces but also with candidates, the Election Commission, the administration, and the public. “I want to leave behind an election that earns praise, not criticism,” he added.
Addressing last year’s July–August student-led uprising that toppled the government, Jahangir Alam said efforts are underway to recover missing or looted weapons, with a reward to be announced soon for information leading to recovery. Around 700 weapons remain unaccounted for out of the 5,818 reportedly looted along with over 607,000 rounds of ammunition.
On other law-and-order issues, he confirmed the recovery of sharp weapons such as samurai swords and machetes from Dhaka’s New Market area, stressing that makers of such weapons must be more cautious.
Regarding the killing of journalist Tuhin in Gazipur, he called the incident “tragic” and criticized the public’s tendency to record videos instead of intervening. Most suspects in the case have been arrested, and authorities are expediting the charge sheet to ensure justice.
He also condemned a recent domestic violence incident in Sherpur, where a man assaulted his wife while their grandson recorded the attack for YouTube. “Instead of filming, intervening could have saved her,” he remarked.
