Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions are at risk of being attacked by militants during the upcoming municipal polls on December 30, according to a police report sent to the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday.
The report, signed by Senior Home Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan, recommended special security countermeasures for the two divisions and suggested an increase in law enforcement and intelligence activities.
Some 364 of the 1,105 polling centres in the two divisions were determined by the report to be at risk for disturbances.
The report said BNP and Jamaat candidates may attempt to prevent members of minority communities from voting. It recommended that police checkpoints be set up in minority areas to bar outsiders from interfering during the polls.
The police have already drawn up a list of polling centres across the country deemed to be at risk for disturbances.
The list includes fully one third of all polling centres – 1,184 or 34.80% – considered risky by the police, out of a total of 3,403 polling centres.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed yesterday said: “We have taken extra precautions at risky polling centres. But I want to say to all candidates and their supporters that there is no need to take part in clashes.
“Use the courts. If your claim is correct the courts will give you a positive result.”
Awami League cries foul over alleged BNP advantage
Awami League Joint Secretary General Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif yesterday claimed the BNP is enjoying an unfair advantage during the campaign period.
The ruling party leader told reporters, after meeting the chief election commissioner (CEC) yesterday, that the Election Commission was being kind to the BNP with regard to campaign rules.
“Since the BNP is not in parliament, its former minsters and ex-MPs are electioneering in favour of its candidates. But the Awami League is being deprived of this opportunity,” he said.
He also alleged that the candidates of the ruling Awami League were being harassed by returning officers in many areas.
“I hope the Election Commission will play a neutral role to ensure a level playing field for all political parties,” Hanif said.
Referring to the EC’s announcement that it would act over allegations of ruling party ministers and lawmakers violating the polls code, Hanif said: “I expect that the EC will not take action before investigating the allegations.”
“But when a minister meets with people after coming out of a mosque, how does it violate the electoral code of conduct? The EC can take steps if he campaigns for somebody,” Hanif said.
Asked about the claims of partiality, the CEC said: “The EC is completely impartial towards every political party. We are not giving any party more advantages or disadvantages over any other.
“When every political party says we are not impartial, then you have to understand that we are acting according to the electoral code and that we are impartial.”
The CEC said returning officers would take action against all violations of the electoral code.
Asked about acting against ruling party lawmakers and ministers, he replied: “We will take action according to the law against anyone who is responsible for any kind of electoral code violation.”
In a letter signed by Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam submitted to the Election Commission on Wednesday, the ruling party objected to 10 municipal poll observers.
Hanif said: “Ten observers have political affiliations. In that case, the polls cannot be fair.”
About the observers, the CEC said: “The commission will decide about the 10 observers against whom the Awami League has protested.”
A delegation from the Jatiya Party led by Syed Abu Hossain Babla yesterday met the CEC to lodge a complaint against the ruling party.
After meeting with the CEC, Jatiya Party Presidium Member and Dhaka north unit President SM Faisal Chishty told reporters: “The ruling party’s candidates and their supporters are threatening our people and in some places our candidates are being falsely accused and being arrested.”
The delegation demanded that magistrates be posted to every polling centre. It also handed over to the CEC a list of 1,500 polling centres that the Jatiya Party considers to be risky.