DHAKA, Dec 13, 2025 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) urging comprehensive security arrangements for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Election Commissioners (ECs), senior officials of the Election Commission Secretariat and field-level election offices ahead of the 13th national election. In a letter sent on Saturday, signed by Mohammad Monir Hossain, Deputy Secretary (Election Management-2 Branch) of the Election Commission Secretariat, the EC said the election schedule was announced on December 11 and that special security measures are now required. The EC requested that, in addition to the existing police escort for the CEC, an extra police escort with a vehicle be provided during the election period. It also sought round-the-clock police security, including escort vehicles, for the four Election Commissioners and the Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat to ensure their safety at residences, during office travel and at workplaces. In a separate letter, the EC informed the IGP that three officials have been appointed as Returning Officers for the upcoming election. They are the Regional Election Officer, Dhaka (for Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15 constituencies), the Regional Election Officer, Chattogram (for Chattogram-11 constituency) and the Regional Election Officer, Khulna (for Khulna-3 constituency). The Commission decided that gunmen should be deployed to provide round-the-clock security for these Returning Officers and requested the police to take necessary steps in this regard. In another communication, the EC highlighted recent incidents in which miscreants set fire to the District Election Office in Lakshmipur and the Upazila Election Office in Mathbaria, Pirojpur, following the announcement of the election schedule. The letter noted that important election-related documents, materials and equipment are stored in regional, district and upazila-level election offices across the country. Considering the situation, the EC requested the deployment of an adequate number of police personnel to ensure the safety of these offices, as well as the security of election officials and employees.