Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Tuesday said there is “no scope” for the upcoming national election to be derailed, stressing that both the military and civil administration are fully united to ensure a free, fair and transparent vote.
He made the remarks while speaking at a high-level coordination meeting, where he said the Election Commission, the government, the police and all branches of the armed forces are working with the same goal of holding a credible election.
While expressing confidence in the election schedule, the Army Chief pointed out specific security risks. He warned about the possible misuse of mobile financial services, such as bKash, for illegal vote-buying. He said the military has already discussed the issue with the Election Commission to monitor and prevent such digital money transfers aimed at influencing voters.
General Waker-Uz-Zaman also cautioned against possible disruptions by local criminals, including ballot snatching, vote rigging and voter intimidation. He instructed security forces to take quick and firm action to stop any such attempts.
Issuing strict instructions to field commanders, he said all legal measures must be used to maintain law and order. “Depending on the severity of the offense, you must resort to detention or filing cases—whatever measures are required must be taken,” he said.
The meeting placed strong emphasis on coordination among all agencies to ensure a neutral and peaceful environment for voters.
Earlier, on Sunday, the Army Chief visited Mymensingh to review preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the 2026 Referendum. During the visit, he held meetings with senior military officers and civil administrators, urging professionalism and citizen-friendly behaviour.
He also inspected troops deployed under the “In Aid to Civil Power” mandate, reaffirming the army’s role as a neutral force to support the democratic process.