A delegation from the United States Embassy visited Khulna to assess the preparedness of law enforcement agencies and review security arrangements ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election.
On Tuesday afternoon, US Embassy representative Stuart Sullivan, accompanied by Foreign Service National Investigator S M Shibli Saifullah, visited the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) headquarters and held a meeting with KMP Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Hasan, said a KMP press release issued last night.
The delegation’s visit is part of a broader assessment of law enforcement readiness and security measures centering the upcoming national election. Prior to arriving in Khulna, the team visited Chattogram, Sylhet and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar to observe preparations there.
During the meeting, Sullivan sought information about police preparedness for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and asked whether there were any risks of election-related violence.
In response, the KMP Commissioner said no incidents of election violence had been reported in the Khulna metropolitan area so far. With the polls scheduled for February 12, he expressed hope that a peaceful atmosphere would prevail.
He said that in line with directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police Headquarters, adequate numbers of law enforcement personnel have been deployed at each polling centre.
In addition to static deployments, mobile patrol teams and striking reserve forces have been kept on standby to address any emergency situation, he added.
About 860 members of the Army, Navy and Air Force have also been deployed in the KMP area. Through coordinated efforts among the law enforcement agencies and the armed forces, the commissioner expressed optimism that a free, fair and impartial election would be ensured.
At the end of the visit, the US Embassy delegation presented a goodwill gift to the KMP Commissioner.
Additional Police Commissioner (recently promoted to DIG) Abu Raihan Muhammad Saleh and Additional Police Commissioner Mohammad Rashidul Islam Khan, among others, were present at the meeting.
