Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has said the Bangladesh Army and all election stakeholders have two main responsibilities ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum.
First, the Army will be ready to provide all necessary support to the civil administration and law-enforcement agencies to ensure a free and fair election. Second, all institutions—including the government, the Election Commission, law enforcers, and the armed forces—must work together to build public confidence in the election process.
He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while speaking to election-related stakeholders at the National Football Stadium in Gulistan. He also inspected an army camp set up at the venue.
The Army Chief said military helicopters and watercraft will remain on standby on election day and during the post-election period to transport election officials and materials to remote or risky polling centres if needed. Helicopters from all forces will be positioned across the country for quick emergency response.
Later, at a press conference at the Roller Skating Complex in Gulistan, Brigadier General Dewan Mohammad Manjur Hossain, Director of Military Operations at Army Headquarters, said around 100,000 army personnel have been deployed for the election—nearly two and a half times more than in previous polls.
He said the army, along with police, RAB, BGB, Navy, and Air Force members, will ensure voter safety, secure ballot boxes, and prevent any violence before or after the election. A 24-hour monitoring cell has been set up at Army Headquarters to oversee the situation nationwide.
Brigadier General Manjur said continuous patrols are being carried out so voters can go to polling centres without fear. Temporary army camps have been set up at upazila and polling-centre levels in many areas.
He also said misinformation and disinformation, including AI-generated fake videos, pose a serious threat to the election and urged the media to help counter false information through timely and factual reporting.
The Army will remain deployed in the field for as long as the government decides, he added.