Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS) - The police administration has taken a six-tier security plan to avoid any untoward situation in Rangpur division during the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and Referendum, 2026 slated for February 12.
 
Meanwhile, a total of 4,546 polling centers have been prepared for 1 crore 34 lakh 54 thousand 456 voters in all 33 constituencies of Rangpur division. 
 
The administration has identified 2,561 of these as risky, including 827 as highly risky. It has been decided to take extra precautions, especially in the char areas, isolated areas and the centers near the homes of some candidates. 

In addition to the surveillance of the detective police at the polling centers, there will be members of the law enforcement agencies with body-worn cameras in all 33 constituencies of eight districts in the division. 

Like the other districts of the division, Rangpur District Police Superintendent Marufat Hussaine briefed local reporters after the parade of police members at the Rangpur Police Lines on Tuesday afternoon. 
 
The SP said that to ensure a peaceful election, police will be deployed at 669 centers under the jurisdiction of the Rangpur District Police.

Adequate number of mobile teams, striking forces, sub-sectors and sectors will be divided in union and municipal areas outside the polling centers to provide security to voters, candidates and election equipment. 
 
In addition to the surveillance of the detective police at the polling centers, the police will have body-worn cameras at 315 centers across Rangpur district. 

He further said that law enforcement agencies including the Patriotic Army, BGB, RAB, and Ansar-VDP will work in the election field along with the police. 

There are 873 polling centers in Rangpur district. Of these, 669 are under the jurisdiction of the district police. CCTV cameras have been installed in these centers. 
 
SP Marufat Hussaine said that the electoral environment in Rangpur district is very good, there has been no chaos so far. 

“We hope that this will continue. Along with this, it will be ensured that voters can go to the polling centers without any problems,” he said. 

Among the 873 polling centers in the six parliamentary constituencies of the district, 216 polling centers have been identified as risky by the law enforcement agencies. The remaining polling centers will be considered as general centers. 

Among the 216 risky polling centers, there are 121 polling stations in the Rangpur City Corporation area under Rangpur Metropolitan Police and 95 in eight upazilas under the Rangpur District Police. 

The police have announced that additional security measures will be taken at these polling centers. 

Police sources said that these centers have been identified as risky considering various factors including high number of voters, previous incidents of arson and vandalism, lack of boundary walls, centers adjacent to the houses of influential leaders of candidates or political parties, remote and populated areas. 
 
Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) sources said that the Metropolitan Police will be in charge of election duty in part of three of the six parliamentary constituencies of Rangpur district.
 
Separate security arrangements have been made in risky polling centers, including duty in 204 polling centers in these places. 
 
In addition, 30 mobile patrol teams and 78 striking reserve forces will work on election duty.
 
Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Enamul Ahsan said that the total number of voters in the six parliamentary constituencies of Rangpur district is 25 lakh 99 thousand 202. 

“Of them, 13,06,333 are female voters and 12,92,838 are male voters. There are 31 transgender (hijra) voters,” he said. 

Voting will be held in 4,988 booths in a total of 873 centers in the district. 44 candidates from different political parties and independents are contesting in this JS polls. 

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Army's 66th Infantry Division Commando Group is ready to control and deal with any kind of volatile situation in Rangpur division. 
 
If chaos occurs in any polling center in remote areas of Rangpur division on Election Day, they will drop helicopters and work to deal with the situation. 

Deployment of 3,000 BGB members in four districts: 

In addition, 3,000 BGB members have been deployed in four districts of Rangpur division to control the law and order situation and maintain peace. 

BGB's Rangpur Sector Commander Colonel SM Shafiqur Rahman said that 74 platoons of BGB have been deployed in 26 base camps in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts under Rangpur BGB sector. 
 
BGB members are working as a mobile and striking force, including setting up check posts and providing flawless security in the constituency. 
 
BGB has paid special attention to maintaining peace and order in the risky centers of these districts. BGB's search activities are ongoing to provide security in the constituencies of these districts. 

In addition, dog squads have been set up at various places considering the risk. Patrols and intelligence surveillance have also been increased. 

Colonel SM Shafiqur Rahman said that there are 2,572 polling centers in these four districts of Rangpur division. Out of these, 600 are risky polling centers.
 
“In addition, representatives of the BGB coordination team are working at the district and upazila levels,” he said. 

Meanwhile, in addition to the police, BGB, and Army, RAB, Ansar, and Village Defense Party (VDP) members are working to strengthen security measures in all constituencies of Rangpur division.

According to various sources in the administration, there have been allegations of attempts to seize polling stations, clashes, intimidation and influence peddling in these centers in the past.
 
As a result, special plans have been taken to maintain law and order in and around the 2,561 risky polling centers of Rangpur division. CCTV cameras are already being installed in these risky centers. 

In addition, additional armed police and Ansar-VFP members are being deployed. There are vigilance teams and striking forces.
 
According to the information provided by the Rangpur Range DIG Office of the Police, there are 30 municipalities and 533 unions in 33 parliamentary constituencies in eight districts of the division. 
 
Rangpur Range DIG Aminul Islam said that the police will perform their duties with utmost caution in risky centers in all eight districts of Rangpur division. 
 
“Additional police will be deployed in each risky polling center. Police members will have body-worn cameras, which will be monitored live from higher levels,” he said, adding that the JS Election and Referendum will be held peacefully in the division.