Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz has pledged to guarantee voter safety during Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, even if extreme measures are required. Speaking at a press briefing at the Chattogram Press Club, Aziz said the city will be placed under a comprehensive security plan to encourage voter turnout and prevent intimidation. He warned that police will not hesitate to act decisively against armed groups operating in the city.

Aziz identified several local gangs, including the Sajjad, Laltu, and Poltu groups, as threats to public security, asserting that no force other than the police will be allowed to operate. He noted that 80% of previously looted police weapons have been recovered, while the rest are believed to be in the hands of separatist groups in hill areas. Additional security will be deployed in minority and high-crime polling centers.

The commissioner also criticized past administrations for aligning state institutions, calling it a cause of authoritarian governance. He urged officers to remain firm yet polite, emphasizing that public confidence and safety are the true measures of police success.