Of the 425 polling centres for the Gazipur City Corporation elections, 337 have been deemed “vulnerable” by law enforcement.
The list was released from the office of the Gazipur superintendent of police (SP), and the decision was taken to deploy extra law enforcement resources at these centres after BNP candidates and the public both requested such measures. However, their request for having military personnel deployed at these centres was denied by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), KM Nurul Huda.
Concerned sources said centres set up at schools near the homes of candidates, centres with a history of unsavoury incidents, centres with poor channels of communication, and centres deemed by intelligence agencies to be at risk have been determined to be “vulnerable.” The Election Commission (EC) has decided to employ 24 members of police and Ansar, 12 of whom will carry firearms, with another 12 carrying batons.
Gazipur SP, Md Harun Ur Rashid, said law enforcement would be deployed not only at polling centres, but also in the surrounding areas.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner, Dr Md Humayun Kabir, said: “We have to ensure a level playing field for the elections. A mobile court headed by an experienced executive magistrate will be present at 57 different polling centres, with another 19 judicial magistrates and 19 assistant returning officers observing the proceedings.”
“We will also deploy 7,000 Ansars, 6,000 policemen, 600 Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members, and 700 BGB members,” he added.
