Md. Abdul Baset, Panchagarh Correspondent: Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, visited Tentulia Upazila of Panchagarh district to observe the overall law and order and security situation.

On Thursday afternoon, the BGB Director General arrived by helicopter at the Tentulia Government Pilot Model High School ground. He later proceeded by motorcade to the base camp of the 18 Battalion, BGB Tentulia, located at Tentulia Technical School and College in Panchagarh.

Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Kazi Sayemuzzaman, Superintendent of Police of Panchagarh, officials from the Bangladesh Army, RAB, Ansar and VDP, the District Election Officer, and officials of the BGB Rangpur Region were present and exchanged views during a meeting.

Addressing the meeting, the BGB Director General said that Border Guard Bangladesh is fully prepared to carry out all responsibilities assigned to it during the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election as a professional, disciplined, and politically neutral force. He stated that BGB has been working in coordination with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that voters can exercise their voting rights in a safe, peaceful, and fear-free environment.

He further informed that more than 37,000 BGB members have been deployed in 489 of the country’s 495 upazilas to ensure the security of the nation’s 4,427-kilometre border area. BGB will perform election duties independently in 61 border upazilas. Additionally, considering security risks, BGB will be deployed as both mobile and static forces in 300 parliamentary constituencies across the country.

The BGB Director General also noted that Panchagarh is an important border and tourism district. BGB is carrying out its duties with heightened vigilance and preparedness to prevent border-related crimes, including smuggling, illegal infiltration, and drug and arms trafficking.

Finally, he expressed strong optimism that the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election will be held peacefully, freely, and in an acceptable manner through the combined efforts of the government, the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies, and the people. He reaffirmed that Border Guard Bangladesh will continue to discharge its constitutional and legal responsibilities with honesty, dedication, and professionalism.

Senior officials from BGB’s regional, sector, and battalion levels were also present during the visit.