Dhaka, Nov. 10 -- The Election Commission (EC) has instructed law-enforcing agencies to take early action to maintain law and order around the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections.

The directives include recovering illegal firearms, arresting identified and listed criminals, setting up check-posts and conducting searches after the announcement of the election schedule, depositing legal weapons, and sealing borders and sea routes if required.

The measures were decided at a pre-preparatory meeting on law and order on Oct 20 ahead of the election.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin chaired the meeting, attended by four election commissioners, the EC secretary, the home secretary, chiefs and representatives of different security ...