<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Armed forces will remain deployed across the country for eight days from Wednesday to assist the local civil administration in holding a free, fair and peaceful election scheduled for January 7, 2024 as per Section 126 of the constitution's "In Aid to the Civil Power".</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The armed forces will provide assistance to the Election Commission (EC) and local civil administration from January 3 to 10 countrywide to ensure peace and order before, during and after the election day, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the armed forces will be stationed at nodal points and other convenient places in every district, upazila and metropolitan areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Upon request from the returning officers concerned and through coordination with stakeholders, the area-base deployment has been completed, said the ISPR.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of Bangladesh Army have been assigned in 62 districts while Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) alone will perform duty in 45 upazilas.</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, the army in coordination with the BGB and Coast Guard will perform duty in 47 bordering upazilas and 4 coastal upazilas respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>The members of Bangladesh Navy will remain deployed in 19 coastal upazilas including in Bhola and Barguna districts.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Air Forces (BAF) will provide helicopter assistance to polling stations in the hilly remote areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, a sufficient number of helicopters of the BAF have been kept ready to provide electoral assistance.</div><div><br></div><div>A cell in coordination with several ministries, divisions, and representatives from the law enforcing agencies has been set up at the armed forces division, which will remain effective till January 10.</div><div><br></div><div>The armed forces have taken all-out preparation to provide necessary assistance to ensure peace and order centering the 12th national parliamentary election. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>