Today Date: 17th September 2026
The nation appears to be moving in full swing toward the February 2026 election, with the Election Commission (EC) expected to announce the schedule in November. The tempo of the upcoming polls is already resonating across the country, symbolizing the most significant event for post-uprising Bangladesh as it strives for a smooth and genuine democratic transition. Following the July 2024 uprising, the interim government’s pledge to ensure a free, fair, and credible election has rekindled public optimism and reshaped national expectations. This period of political transition has infused citizens with a renewed sense of hope, making the forthcoming election an event of exceptional national importance.
The entire country—particularly the younger generation, long deprived of the opportunity to cast their votes—awaits the election with heightened anticipation. For many first-time voters, this moment represents far more than a routine civic duty; it is a long-awaited chance to participate in shaping the country’s democratic destiny. Their eagerness reflects a deep yearning for inclusion, transparency, and genuine political transformation, symbolizing the people’s collective aspiration for a new chapter in Bangladesh’s democratic journey.
As part of its preparations for the 13th National Parliament Election, the Chief Election Commissioner has meanwhile launched a dialogue with the media and other stakeholders. The dialogues are intended to engage diverse perspectives and enhance transparency in the electoral process. The CEC stated that the commission’s objective is to conduct an election “as clean as a mirror,” one that is perceived as acceptable by all and observed by the international community. People of Bangladesh welcome and support the firm commitment of the CEC to holding a transparent, fair, and credible national election. During the dialogue, the CEC expressed his concerns about the law and order situation and the spreading of disinformation by using the digital platform. Journalists and civic leaders also buy into these concerns, adding the impact of money and muscle power.
The post-uprising period in Bangladesh has ushered in a phase of heightened political sensitivity and institutional strain, placing unprecedented demands on law enforcement agencies—particularly the police—to uphold stability, neutrality, and credibility. With the collapse of long-standing political dominance and subsequent administrative realignments, public confidence in the police has come under intense scrutiny. The maintenance of law and order has thus become a central national concern, closely watched by both domestic and international stakeholders. Persistent challenges such as political violence, organized crime, mob attacks, and sporadic social unrest continue to test the capacity and resilience of law enforcement institutions. These pressures intensify in the lead-up to the national election, as political rivalries sharpen and tensions rise. Since the formation of the interim government, incidents of mob violence—most notably in Dhaka—have deepened the sense of public insecurity. Nevertheless, there is cautious optimism that the situation will begin to stabilize once the Election Commission announces the schedule, signaling a more structured and predictable phase in the country’s democratic transition.
The police, already constrained by low morale, fragmented command structures, limited operational capacity, and weakened intelligence networks, have struggled to adapt to the shifting dynamics of law and order following the uprising of August 5, 2024, deepening public distrust in their ability to maintain order and ensure electoral security. This institutional fragility has been compounded by severe operational setbacks that have crippled the force’s effectiveness: the loss of a large number of vehicles has severely curtailed mobility, while essential equipment damaged or destroyed during the upheaval remains unreplaced. Even more alarming are the confirmed losses from police arsenals—5,763 firearms and 651,609 rounds of ammunition looted during the turmoil 1,342 remain missing, including around 400 pistols. The prospect of these weapons falling into the hands of vigilante groups or criminal networks poses a serious threat to national security, particularly amid the fragile transition toward political stability. Further aggravating the situation, about 700 convicts escaped during the uprisings and remain at large, adding another layer of insecurity to an already strained and vulnerable law enforcement environment.
In this fragile climate, the Bangladesh police, as the principal law enforcement agency, bears a decisive responsibility to safeguard internal security, uphold public safety, and protect the electoral process from malpractice. Their duties include preventing voter fraud, ballot staffing, curbing intimidation, protecting polling stations, managing political rallies, and responding impartially to violations of electoral laws. Failure to do so—through lapses such as allowing deceased individuals to vote, enabling multiple ballots by the same person, or permitting political manipulation—would compromise the credibility of the polls, corrode democratic values, and reduce representative governance to a hollow exercise.
For the February 2026 national election, the police and other security forces are expected to act as neutral guardians of the democratic process, free from political influence and committed to human rights, justice, and transparency. By ensuring a secure and intimidation-free environment, promptly addressing complaints, and maintaining public order, they can protect the sanctity of the vote and demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law. Ultimately, the credibility of the election will depend heavily on the perceived neutrality and professionalism of the police and other security forces—factors that will shape public trust, political acceptance of the results, and the broader integrity of Bangladesh’s democratic governance.
As reported in the news media, approximately 75 percent of the two-lakh-strong police force (around 1.5 lakh personnel) are undergoing motivation and training specifically for election duties. The IGP portrays the election as not merely a political contest but a national duty, aligning policing with state continuity and national integrity. Similarly, the Ansar and VDP have been making every possible effort to train and prepare their members for the upcoming election. There shall be multi-agency coordination involving police, Ansar and VDP, BGB, Coast Guard, and Army units. The success of election security depends as much on citizen participation and political cooperation as on force deployment. The police have initiated risk-mapping and ‘groundwork’ to identify potential hotspots and vulnerabilities, incorporating feedback from candidates, observers, and local stakeholders to develop an adaptive security plan.
On the other hand, the current environment is characterized by a serious erosion of informational integrity, posing an unprecedented challenge to public order and electoral stability. Artificial intelligence–driven disinformation, deepfakes, doctored images, and fabricated statements circulating on social media have transformed the political landscape by inflaming passions and deepening divisions among an already distrustful citizenry. The Election Commission, as the guardian of electoral integrity, faces mounting pressure to counter these threats but remains hampered by limited technological capacity and reluctance to impose restrictive measures such as social media shutdowns, leaving the electoral process highly vulnerable to manipulation. Adding to this complexity, Bangladesh now faces transnational digital interference, with both domestic and foreign actors exploiting cyber channels to influence political outcomes. In the absence of a coordinated cybersecurity framework uniting the police, intelligence agencies, and telecommunication regulators, the state remains ill-prepared to confront the multifaceted dangers of digital disinformation and psychological warfare. The EC urged the media to help counter misinformation and disinformation, stressing that the people of the media are partners in upholding the integrity of the electoral process.
Underlying this digital vulnerability is a deeper institutional fragility. The EC and associated administrative bodies face criticism for weak coordination and insufficient oversight of candidate affidavits and campaign conduct. A credible election demands a robust administrative framework capable of ensuring a level playing field. When rules are applied inconsistently or enforcement appears selective, it creates fertile ground for speculation and grievance. However, the Election Commission (EC) may still be able to reorganize its operations and strengthen coordination among relevant institutions to assert its functional autonomy, thereby paving the way for a genuinely free and fair election.
Compounding these institutional weaknesses is the enduring influence of money and muscle power in Bangladesh’s political culture. The use of financial inducements to secure votes and the coercive deployment of partisan cadres to intimidate opponents remain persistent features of electoral competition. These practices blur the distinction between political activism and criminality, forcing law enforcement agencies into a precarious balancing act.
Moreover, the public trust deficit that underpins these challenges cannot be overstated. When citizens believe that elections are predetermined or manipulated, their willingness to abide by the outcome diminishes. This erosion of trust is not merely a moral issue; it is a direct security concern. Disenchanted groups may resort to street protests, confrontation with police, or rejection of official results, leading to an escalation of violence. The fragility of law and order, therefore, stems as much from perception as from actual incidents of disorder. Restoring credibility requires visible impartiality, transparent procedures, and consistent communication from the Election Commission and law enforcement bodies alike.
The overall picture that emerges is of a nation navigating intertwined layers of fragility—political, institutional, and technological—each amplifying the other. Weak institutions struggle to counter the spread of digital misinformation; law enforcement erodes public confidence; and a misinformed electorate becomes increasingly vulnerable to manipulation. Within this fragile landscape, even seemingly minor incidents—an altercation at a polling centre, a rumour circulated on social media, or a disputed official remark—can trigger widespread unrest.
While political tension traditionally accompanies electoral cycles in Bangladesh, the present context is particularly volatile due to the convergence of institutional weakness, technological exploitation, deep political polarization, and declining public trust. Observations from senior journalists and civic leaders reinforce these apprehensions, pointing to the complex interplay of governance failures, partisan rivalry, and security vulnerabilities that together threaten the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged strategy rooted in transparency, professionalism, and civic engagement. The Election Commission must clearly articulate its rules and decisions, publish verifiable data on candidate credentials, and ensure equitable access to campaign resources. Law enforcement agencies need intensive training in crowd management, impartiality, and rights-based policing to prevent escalation during political mobilizations. A nationwide coalition of fact-checking initiatives, drawing on collaboration among media outlets, universities, and civil society, could help inoculate the public against AI-driven disinformation. Above all, communication between state institutions and the public must be continuous and credible, replacing secrecy and speculation with openness and reassurance.
In conclusion, the fragile law and order situation ahead of Bangladesh’s national election is not merely a reflection of temporary tension but a symptom of deeper structural and informational vulnerabilities. It is a moment that tests the resilience of democratic institutions, the professionalism of law enforcement, and the maturity of political actors. Whether the election becomes a peaceful exercise in civic participation or a flashpoint of unrest will depend largely on the ability of these institutions to act with impartiality, foresight, and transparency. The call by journalists and civic voices is thus not only a warning but an appeal—to preserve law and order through truth, accountability, and trust in the democratic process.
Dr. Md. Motiar Rahman is a retired additional inspector general of police.
-x-