The Election Commission of Bangladesh has authorized the Air Force to deploy drones for surveillance and security during the upcoming national elections. Chief Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Sanaullah announced the decision following a high-level meeting with the heads of the army, navy, and air force in Dhaka. The move comes amid heightened security concerns following the killing of political figure Sharif Osman Hadi, which officials say has affected law and order in several constituencies.
Sanaullah confirmed that joint forces have already launched coordinated operations to recover illegal weapons and detain suspects. Since December 13, security agencies have arrested around 2,000 individuals daily and seized dozens of weapons. The Election Commission emphasized that one-third of the planned 100,000-strong military deployment is already in place, with the remainder to follow soon. Authorities assured that all security forces are fully prepared to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
The Commission urged political parties to cooperate with law enforcement and maintain calm, stressing that those attempting to disrupt the electoral process will face legal consequences.