The police are entering the field of the 13th National Parliament election with the shortage of vehicles and lack of morale. Sources said that while more than 400 vehicles were purchased for the police force in the last financial year, there is still a shortage of more than 6,000 vehicles of various types, boats and other logistics. The police have not yet fully recovered the morale lost after the July uprising.
About one and a half lakh policemen will perform duty in the election.
However, police headquarters said some vehicles and logistics have already been purchased. They are hopeful that the remaining deficits will be filled before the elections. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) said that the police force has full capacity to make the elections successful and fair.
According to police headquarters, 526 police vehicles were destroyed and beyond repair in 2024 during the anti-discrimination student movement, the July uprising and the post-uprising violence. These include 241 pickups, 13 operational jeeps, 55 special vehicles and 217 motorcycles. Bangladesh Police has purchased a total of 418 vehicles in the financial year 2024-25 to meet the crisis. These include 200 pickups, 20 operational jeeps, 46 special vehicles and 152 motorcycles. In other words, there is a shortfall of 108 against destroyed and unrepairable vehicles.
According to police information, after buying more than 400 new vehicles in the last financial year, the number of police vehicles has reached 10 thousand 9 till last November. Among them, 2,850 pickups, 539 operational jeeps, 331 special vehicles and 6,289 motorcycles. However, there is a shortfall of 6,160 vehicles compared to the requirement. Among them, 507 pickups, 445 operational jeeps, 1 thousand 707 special vehicles and 3 thousand 501 motorcycles.
Meanwhile, on March 12 last year, the committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs declared 1,385 police vehicles useless at once. These include 203 pickups, 75 operational jeeps, 187 special vehicles and 920 motorcycles.
The police currently has a total of 274 boats. Among them, 112 country boats, 135 speed boats and 11 petrol boats. There is a shortage of 199. Among them 44 native boats, 46 speed boats, 13 petrol boats and 10 rescue boats. However, 4 speed boats and 3 petrol boats were purchased in the last financial year.
Police sources said that the morale of the policemen has not yet fully recovered due to the attacks, vandalism, looting, arson and casualties in various police establishments including police stations across the country in August 2024. Only 40 days left for the election.
IGP Baharul Alam told the Election Commission (EC) in an exchange meeting with field administration officials at the Agargaon election building on December 23 that the police force can make the election successful and beautiful. They have full capacity. The EC can trust the police in this regard.
Thirteenth national parliament election and referendum will be held on February 12. About one and a half lakh policemen will perform duty in this election. Sources said that in the midst of the shortage of vehicles and equipment, field level members including senior police officers are preparing to perform election duties. They are taking electoral training without government allowance or allocation.
When attention was drawn to the lack of police vehicles and logistics, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Headquarters AHM Shahadat Hossain said, ‘More than five hundred police vehicles were destroyed and beyond repair during the July uprising. Apart from this last year about 1 thousand 400 more vehicles were declared useless. However, several vehicles and logistics have already been purchased. I hope that the remaining deficiencies can be filled before the election.
