Paramilitary Forces Deployed in Mirpur Amid Election Fever

In a strategic move to preserve public order and mitigate the risk of political friction, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed to the Mirpur district of the capital. The deployment was formally confirmed by the BGB headquarters on Thursday afternoon, 22 January 2026, as the nation enters a high-stakes phase of campaigning for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Securing the Mirpur Heartland

The primary catalyst for this heightened security presence is a massive public rally at the Adarsha High School grounds in Mirpur-10. This event marked the official campaign launch for Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, who is contesting the Dhaka-15 seat as a heavyweight candidate for the 10-party alliance.

Given Mirpur’s history as a politically sensitive corridor and the sheer scale of the expected crowd, the local administration requested paramilitary support to augment the existing police force. BGB personnel were seen conducting patrols and establishing strategic cordons around the venue to ensure that the influx of thousands of activists does not lead to civil disruption or clashes with rival political factions.

Security Deployment Overview: Mirpur Sector

Maintaining the Code of Conduct

The BGB’s presence in the capital is part of a broader nationwide strategy to act as a “striking force” during the electoral period. Under the current administrative guidelines, the paramilitary force remains on standby to intervene if local police find themselves overwhelmed by partisan violence.

While the rally proceeded peacefully on Thursday, the deployment serves as a deterrent against the “money and muscle” culture that often surfaces during the final weeks of a campaign. For Dhaka-15, a constituency with a diverse demographic including many low-income residents and slum dwellers, the sight of uniformed personnel provides a sense of security to the general public, even as it signals the state’s intolerance for electoral malpractice.

A Tense Road to February 12

The 12 February 2026 election is being closely watched by international observers, and the neutrality of the security forces remains a paramount concern. The Election Commission has stated that such deployments are “preventative rather than reactive,” intended to foster an environment where voters feel safe to engage with candidates. As the sun set on Mirpur-10, the BGB continued their vigil, ensuring that the democratic exercise remained a contest of ideas rather than a conflict of force.