With just over a month to go before municipal elections, law enforcers have stepped up the hunt for listed, first information reported and warranted criminals, and illegal firearms across the country.
The district superintendents of police (SP) have received orders from Police Headquarters to begin security operations to ensure that the upcoming polls are held peacefully.
The district police units have been asked to create a list of vulnerable polling centres and to increase checkpoints especially in districts adjacent to border areas.
On Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad announced that elections in 234 municipalities would be held on December 30.
Licenced gun owners’ firearms and paperwork will be double-checked, sources at the Police HQ and the Home Ministry said.
When contacted, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the law enforcement personnel had been instructed to take steps to ensure peaceful polls.
A list of suspects and potential troublemakers will be drawn up, the minister said.
“Action will be taken against troublemakers no matter what political party they belong to,” he added.
A high official at the Police HQ, asking not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune that security preparations had been stepped up in light of recent bomb blasts, murders of foreigners and attacks on police personnel.
The movement of arms dealers and local criminals tends to increase ahead of the elections, he added.
The official said the district police had been asked to operate with sensitivity so that claims of political harassment could not be made. Special care would be given to districts believed to be vulnerable according to intelligence reports, he added.
Ruhul Amin, superintendent of police of Dinajpur district, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that steps had been taken to maintain law and order and to recover illegal firearms in the district.
Intelligence sources said residential hotels and student mess halls would be under surveillance, especially in areas where Jamaat-Shibir are active.
Intelligence agencies will maintain a strong surveillance presence for the duration of the election period, an intelligence source confirmed.
In addition to the police, Border Guard Bangladesh and the district administration will help support security operations.
Asked about their security preparations, Chuadanga district SP Rashidul Hasan said his staff had begun arresting criminals and recovering illegal firearms. This was echoed by Joypurhat district SP Nazrul Islam who said his staff had begun preparing a list of local criminals.
