The Election Commission (EC) is holding a high-level meeting with the armed forces and other security agencies to finalise security strategies for ensuring a free, fair and peaceful 13th national parliamentary election.
The meeting began around 10:30am on Monday (20 October) at the EC headquarters, with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin in the chair. Representatives of the chiefs of the three armed services, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of other security forces are attending the meeting. Election commissioners and senior EC officials are also present.
EC officials said the meeting is focused on identifying challenges and determining specific action plans. The Commission has identified a dozen major challenges, including the security of polling centres, maintaining communal harmony, protecting minorities, coordinating law enforcement activities, controlling illegal weapons, and countering misinformation and propaganda on social media.
The agenda also includes reviewing deployment plans for armed forces personnel during the election period, strengthening security at regional election offices, and ensuring the protection of foreign journalists and pre-election observers.
Other key measures under discussion involve controlling infiltration, securing remote and hill tract areas, transporting election materials, arranging helicopter support for polling officials, and imposing a ban on drone cameras.
The EC is preparing to hold the 13th national election in the first half of February, and the official election schedule is expected to be announced in the first half of December, officials added.
