The Bangladesh Army is prepared to support the upcoming national elections scheduled for February, but it has yet to receive formal instructions from the Election Commission (EC), officials said.
Army headquarters expect the directive from the EC soon, following government communications regarding election duties.
Colonel Staff Colonel Md. Shafiqul Islam of the Military Operations Directorate spoke at a briefing on Monday at the Officers’ Mess of Dhaka Cantonment. He emphasized that the army will operate impartially to ensure a fair and smooth election once EC instructions are issued.
Responding to journalists’ questions, Colonel Shafiqul said, “We will soon receive election directives from the commission. Based on those, we will carry out our responsibilities in the field. Our own preparations are already in place.”
Regarding discussions on social media about the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election and potential ballot tampering, he clarified that the army has no involvement in the DUCSU polls but believes the election plays a role in promoting democratic practice.
Colonel Shafiqul also addressed allegations that some retired army officers are spreading misleading information online, stating that such propaganda is widely recognized as false and the government will take necessary action.
On the recovery of weapons lost on 5 August, he reported that 80 percent of the arms have already been recovered, with the remainder expected to be retrieved soon.
When asked about the law-and-order situation nationwide, he said it is a collective responsibility and noted some delays due to coordination gaps between the army and police. He added, however, that army deployment quickly restores order in such situations.
Regarding mob violence across the country, he noted that delayed information from sources sometimes slows response times, but the army has never allowed mobs to act unchecked. On the specific case in Rajbari where exhumation of bodies caused delays, he stated that order was restored once the army arrived.
Colonel Shafiqul also reaffirmed the army’s respect for freedom fighters, stating, “This country was born because of our freedom fighters. The Bangladesh Army always maintains utmost respect and honor for them.”
