Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has described Narayanganj as a sensitive area in the run-up to the Narayanganj 5 by-poll scheduled for June 26.
He, however, said military would not be deployed during the election.
“The area is sensitive and the commission will keep an eye on the poll but as it is a by-poll, the commission has decided not to deploy army,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with Narayanganj administration officials and law enforcement agencies at the EC Secretariat yesterday.
Narayanganj 5 constituency is going to by-poll following the death of Jatiya Party lawmaker Nasim Osman but a tense situation prevails in the district over the sensational seven murders.
“The commission will deploy additional law enforcers to ensure that the election is held in a free and fair environment,” the CEC said.
Rakibuddin said the commission did not fear any violence during the poll considering the report submitted by the intelligence agencies and local administration.
But the authorities concerned had been asked to be on alert when voting was held, he said.
“Members of the law enforcement agencies have already begun operations to seize illegal arms and arrest criminals in the polling area. The commission has also asked them to take immediate action if there is a violation of electoral code of conduct,” he added.
A senior EC official, however, told the Dhaka Tribune that police report had hinted at probable violence considering infighting within the ruling party.
But the law and order situation was normal so far, said the official who attended yesterday’s meeting.
He added that intelligence officials had urged the EC to take special measures for maintaining law and order in the area before and after the poll.
The CEC said the commission would deploy 17 law enforcers each at the general polling centres and 18 at the vulnerable ones.
EC officials said the commission would deploy members of the Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, Armed Police Battalion and Ansar in the polling areas.
They said the EC would deploy three platoons of Coast Guard and four platoons of BGB. Besides, 10 executive magistrates and two judicial magistrates would be appointed to punish offenders right away.
Meanwhile, independent candidate SM Akram got the symbol pineapple, Jatiya Party candidate Selim Osman got the plough, Krishak Sramik Janata League’s Shafiqul Islam Delowar got the towel and independent candidate advocate Mamun Sirajul Majid got the shrimp to contest in the election.
