The Election Commission, along with law enforcers and administration, has taken a set of measures to curb polls-time offences such as voting for money, breach of code of conduct and scaring voters.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) will set up 24-hour check posts at the city’s entry points – City Gate, Shah Amanat Third Kanranphuli Bridge, Kalurghat, Oxygen and Patenga – to stop arms peddling, passage of black money and restricting entry of outsiders, sources said.
Law enforcers will conduct spot-specific drives in the city’s crime-prone and densely populated areas.
The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Election Returning Office has formed 14 teams to keep watch over the 41 wards in the city to prevent harassment of voters, misconduct by candidates, exchange of money and crime.
CCC elections Retuning Officer Abdul Baten told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our officers, led by magistrates, are roaming around the city and checking everything. Based on previous records and current scenarios, we are shortlisting the risky areas...Not just voters and the candidates, attitudes of the law enforcement agencies and authorities are also under watch.”
He also said: “We will intensify vigilance 10-14 days before the election.”
CMP Commissioner Abdul Jalil Mandal said: “We have already sought 6,000 additional security personnel to strengthen vigilance.”
Delwar Hossain Majumder, president of Concerned Citizen’s Committee (CCC-TIB) Chittagong, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The situation in the port city is better than that of any other place in the country for holding fair and risk-free election. But still, the EC must deploy at least two security personnel in every ward to ensure effective monitoring.”
He also said: “The authorities concerned will also have to play effective roles during the pre- and post-election periods to ensure voters’ security.”
In the port city, 12 people are running for the mayor post, 257 for ward councillor and 61 for reserved female councillor posts in the April 28 polls.
More than 18 lakh people will be able to practice their voting rights in 719 voting centres in the port city.