United News of Bangladesh

As Rangpur division prepares for the national election, an unprecedented security operation has turned the region into a tightly guarded zone, with law enforcement agencies rolling out a six-tier security plan to ensure peaceful voting. From char areas and remote villages to busy city centres, more than 4,500 polling centres across 33 constituencies are now under close surveillance. Of these, 2,561 centres have been identified as risky and 827 as highly risky, prompting authorities to deploy additional forces, technology-driven monitoring and rapid-response teams. Police officials say intelligence-led policing lies at the heart of the security strategy. Body-worn cameras will be used by police members at hundreds of polling centres, with live footage monitored by senior officials. CCTV cameras have also been installed at most centres marked vulnerable based on past incidents of violence, vandalism or intimidation. “Our objective is simple — voters must feel safe and confident when they come to cast their ballots,” said Superintendent of Rangpur Police Marufat Hossain, while briefing at a parade at the Rangpur Police Lines. “So far, the election environment remains calm, and we are determined to keep it that way,” he said. In Rangpur district alone, voting will take place at 873 polling centres, of which 216 have been categorised as risky. Police patrols, mobile teams and striking forces will operate around the clock, while intelligence officers keep a discreet watch inside and outside polling centres. Beyond the police, a coordinated force of the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), RAB, Ansar and VDP has been mobilised to reinforce security.  The Army’s 66 Infantry Division has kept its commando group on standby, ready to be deployed by helicopter to remote or hard-to-reach polling centres if unrest breaks out.