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Police fear clashes and violence during the upcoming local government elections, while senior officials have raised concerns over shortages of vehicles and other resources needed to maintain security.
At a training programme for police officers in Dhaka on Wednesday, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir said local elections could be more contentious than the recent national election, as candidates from both the ruling and opposition sides would compete intensely for victory.
The IGP said police units across the country were short of about 2,500 vehicles, reducing the force’s operational capacity by around 20%.
Police currently have 16,169 vehicles. Officials said the shortage was partly caused by damage during the July 2024 uprising, when 1,074 police vehicles were damaged, including 455 vehicles and motorcycles that were set on fire. Another 1,369 vehicles became unusable in 2025.
Police headquarters spokesman AHM Shahadat Hossain said the force had already submitted requests for additional vehicles and equipment to strengthen its field operations.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin also warned of possible violence, saying local polls have historically seen more clashes because of multiple candidates, sometimes from the same family.
He said the Election Commission would strengthen security monitoring through CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and digital and online surveillance during the polls.