A helicopter flies over Khagrachhari as part of election logistics. Helicopter support will be used to reach three remote polling centers during the 13th national election. Image: The Times of Jumland (for editorial purposes).
Bangladesh, Khagrachari | Saturday, February 7, 2026: As Bangladesh prepares for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, election authorities in Khagrachhari are making special logistical and security arrangements to manage voting in remote and difficult terrain.
Out of 203 polling centers in Khagrachhari constituency (Seat 298), helicopter support will be used at three centers due to extreme remoteness and lack of road access. Election officials said the use of helicopters in these areas is not new and has been part of election operations in previous polls.
The three polling centers where helicopter support will be deployed are Narai Chhari Government Primary School at Dewanpara in Babuchhara Union of Dighinala upazila, Shuknachhari Government Primary School in Laxmichhari Union of Laxmichhari upazila, and Futachhari Government Primary School in Bormachhari Union. These locations are considered hard to reach by regular transport, especially during election operations that require the timely delivery of materials and personnel.
Khagrachhari district consists of three municipalities, nine upazilas, and 38 unions. The constituency has a total of 554,114 registered voters. Among them, 280,206 are male voters, 273,904 are female voters, and four voters are registered under the third gender category.
A total of 203 polling centers have been set up across the district. Of these, 53 centers are classified as remote. Election authorities have also categorized polling centers based on security risk. According to official data, 68 centers have been marked as highly vulnerable, 121 as vulnerable, and only 14 centers have been identified as normal.
There are also 20 polling centers located in border areas. Among them, one is in Dighinala, three are in Panchhari, seven are in Ramgarh, and nine are in Matiranga. These centers require additional monitoring and coordination due to their geographic sensitivity.
Despite logistical challenges, campaign activity in Khagrachhari remains active. Candidates from different parties are continuing voter outreach across the constituency. Those campaigning include BNP candidate Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan (Sheaf of Paddy), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md. Ayakub Ali (Scale), independent candidate Samiran Dewan (Football), independent candidate Dharma Jyoti Chakma (Horse), Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Md. Kawsar Azizi (Hand Fan), and Bangladesh Minority Janata Party candidate Ushepru Marma (Rocket).
Other candidates also remain active in the field, including Gono Odhikar Parishad candidate Dinmoy Roaja (Truck), Jatiya Party candidate Mithila Roaja (Plough), Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh candidate Md. Nur Islam (Apple), Bangladesh Muslim League candidate, Md. Mostafa (Hurricane) and independent candidate Jiruna Tripura (Pitcher).
Election administration officials say preparations are ongoing to ensure orderly voting. Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer, Md. Anwar Sadat, District Election Officer S. M. Shahadat Hossain, and Additional District Magistrate Md. Mostafa Jabed Kaiser are overseeing coordination among election offices and local administration.
Law enforcement agencies are also working closely with election officials. Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayem Mahmud said police and other security forces are coordinating to maintain law and order and support a peaceful voting process.
With its difficult geography, a high number of vulnerable polling centers, and complex logistics, Khagrachhari remains one of the most challenging constituencies to manage during national elections. The upcoming vote will test not only how effectively election authorities can operate in remote and security-sensitive areas and ensure voter access across the hills. At the same time, it also depends on security forces’ support for the electoral process in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region that has remained under a strong military presence for more than five decades.
By The Times of Jumland | Khagrachari Desk
