The Election Commission is worried about the security of the newly constructed server stations in district, regional and upazila levels across the country as some valuable equipments have gone missing recently.
On Monday, the commission sent letters, signed by Deputy Secretary of EC Israil Hossain, to all superintendents of police and commissioners of metropolitan police, asking them to ensure security at all server stations. The commission’s letter also requested officer-in-charges’ to increase vigilance around the stations until any permanent security measures are taken.
The issue of added security emerged after some laptops, scanners, cameras and other necessary equipments went missing in some of the offices.
The letter said the commission feared that all field-level offices were now insecure since they were directly involved with elections and many political leaders, activists, supporters and contenders come regularly.
According to the letter, information, voter data and papers from nine regional offices, 38 district, and 410 upazila and thana offices has already been shifted to newly constructed buildings.
When contacted yesterday, Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz confirmed the sending of the letters and said security at the server stations should be ensured immediately.
However, EC sources said they did not receive any response from the police authorities in this regard yet.
Meanwhile, the commission has directed it’s establishment wing to fill the 15 vacant security guard posts at the now operational server stations. An official of the wing said they were also trying to appoint security guards at the 410 upazila server stations which will be operational from November this year.
