Staff Reporter:
The Election Commission (EC) has revised its earlier decision on deploying Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) cadets during the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and referendum, limiting their role only to maintaining discipline at postal ballot vote-counting centres following objections raised by the BNP.
Although the commission had earlier decided to deploy BNCC cadets to assist in election-related duties, a revised directive now restricts their deployment exclusively to the IT-supported postal ballot vote-counting centres for Out-of-County Voting (OCV) and In-Country Postal Voting (ICPV), according to amended instructions signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Manir Hossain on Tuesday.
The 13th national parliamentary election and referendum will be held on 12 February. In this connection, the EC has decided to deploy BNCC cadets at postal ballot vote-counting centres set up at returning officers’ offices to assist in maintaining discipline, under the instructions of the returning officer or presiding officer.
On 1 February, BNP Electoral Steering Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters after a meeting with the chief election commissioner that the party had raised concerns over the engagement of BNCC cadets in election activities.
“We have heard that BNCC cadets, who are students, may be involved in election work for the first time. We told the commission that involving young students in a complex process like a parliamentary election is not appropriate,” he said.
The BNP leader warned that such involvement could make both the cadets and the institution controversial, adding that it could eventually lead to demands to involve Scouts or Girl Guides.
The Election Commission on 11 December announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on 12 February 2026.
