C T Online Desk: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will not use any lethal weapons to maintain law and order during the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, BGB Dhaka Sector Commander Colonel SM Abul Ehsan has said.
He said more than 37,000 BGB members will be deployed across the country during the election while ensuring security along the nation’s 4,427-kilometre border. Quick Response Force units and the BGB helicopter wing will also remain on standby, he added.
Colonel Ehsan made the remarks at a press conference held on Saturday at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur, Dhaka.
The press briefing focused on BGB’s preparedness and operational planning to maintain law and order in Dhaka and its surrounding districts during the election period.
He said that, alongside border security duties, BGB has been deployed nationwide to help ensure a free, fair, neutral and credible election.
Under the Dhaka Sector, BGB units from Dhaka Battalion (5 and 26 BGB), Narayanganj Battalion (62 BGB) and Gazipur Battalion (63 BGB) will operate in nine districts and four city corporations, covering a total of 51 parliamentary constituencies. In these areas, 134 platoons of BGB personnel will be deployed from 42 temporary base camps. In addition, specialised K-9 dog squad units will be stationed to conduct special search operations.
Highlighting the use of technology, the Dhaka Sector commander said BGB personnel will use body-worn cameras, night-vision devices, metal detectors, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and modern signal and communication equipment while performing election duties to ensure transparency, accountability and effective security.
To monitor the overall situation round the clock, special monitoring cells have been set up at both battalion and sector headquarters. On polling day, BGB will conduct patrols as both mobile and static forces, establish checkpoints at key locations, and carry out searches of vehicles and suspicious individuals to prevent any attempt at sabotage or unrest, he said.
Asked whether the BGB anticipates any security risks surrounding the election, Colonel Ehsan said no such concerns have been identified so far.
“Our Director General has instructed us clearly that we will not use any lethal weapons to keep the law and order situation normal during the election,” he added.
