The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will impose restrictions on movements of outsiders and vehicles on Dhaka University (DU) campus from Sunday 6pm to Monday 6pm due to the DU Central Student's Union (Ducsu) and hall union polls.
DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia made the announcement at a press briefing at Shahbagh police station on Saturday. DU Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani was also present there.
The elections are scheduled to take place from 8am to 2pm on Monday.
The DMP chief said: “During the restriction period, only legal pass or ID card holders, who include students, teachers and administration members, will be able to enter the campus.
“Those without valid passes or ID cards will not be allowed to enter. Motor vehicles with valid pass or stickers will be allowed only to enter the campus.”
The DMP’s decisions have come after DU authorities on Wednesday decided that movement of all types of vehicles, other than vehicles carrying a special pass from the authorities concerned, restricted on the campus during the elections.
Asaduzzaman Mia said that police will put up barricades in seven areas — Shahbagh, Nilkhet, Palashi, Jagannath Hall crossing, Rumana crossing, Shahidullah Hall crossing and High Court crossing.
“Dhaka Medical College Hospital-bound people are being advised to take the Chankharpool and Bakshibazar routes."
He also said: “The university authority will be providing special passes to journalists. Four cameras will be allowed from each electronic media outlet. Two reporters and one cameraman will be allowed from each print media outlet to cover the election.”
He added: "The police administration is prepared to discharge its duties in coordination with the university authorities.
“For security reasons every polling centre will be under CCTV camera coverage and everyone will have to pass through the metal detector archways to enter.”
Additional police personnel have been deployed and they will keep everything under surveillance during the voting, added the DMP commissioner.
DU authorities are making all the decision regarding the preparations and the DMP is assisting them, he said.
All classes and examinations in the university will remain suspended on the election day.