Bangladesh police deploy to guard polling centres

DHAKA: Bangladesh's police chief said that more than 150,000 officers will be deployed for this week's elections, warning that more than half of polling stations were flagged as vulnerable to violence. Police records show that five people were killed and more than 600 injured in political clashes during the campaign period from December 11 to February 9.
More than 157,000 police officers, backed by 100,000 soldiers and other security forces, will guard Thursday's vote — the first since a mass uprising toppled the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina in 2024. 'We are 1,000 percent confident about doing our part,' Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam told reporters in Dhaka.
Alam said police had assessed that 'more than 24,000 polling centres have been marked as either high-risk or moderately risky' for possible unrest, violence or ballot stuffing — more than half of the 42,000 centres nationwide. 'The location of some centres is very remote, and there is intense competition, and hostility among candidates and their supporters,' he said. — AFP