Members of police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be on high alert to avert possible subversive incidents in Gazipur city and the surrounding areas ahead of the city election, scheduled to take place today.
Intelligence officials have identified 337 polling centres – about 80% of the total of 425 centres – as vulnerable or risky and have recommended special security measures to maintain law and order.
Each of the vulnerable polling centres will have 24 law enforcement officials including 12 armed guards, while the rest of other centres will each have 22 law enforcement officials including 10 armed guards.
An armed police personnel along with a Ansar member is seen carrying Gazipur city polls ballots in a sack on the eve of the election, scheduled to place on Tuesday, June 25, 2018 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
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The district administration has already put tight security measures in place, including the deployment of 15,000 law enforcement personnel at strategic points around the city, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Humayun Kabir said.
Of them, 29 platoons of BGB were deployed in the city on Sunday, while 58 RAB teams, 57 mobile teams of police, and 20 teams of strike force will be dispatched ahead of the election.
RAB 1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem said they had divided the whole city corporation area into two sectors: Gazipur and Tongi.
58 RAB teams, 57 mobile teams of police, and 20 teams of strike force will be dispatched ahead of the election | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
Gazipur is further divided into three parts – Gazipur Sadar, Joydebpur, Kashimpur – and Tongi into three parts – Pubail, Tongi Bazar and National University area.
In addition, mobile courts led by 62 executive magistrates will be on duty around the city.
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The Election Commission and the Gazipur district administration have finished all preparations to hold a free and fair election today, said Gazipur Returning Officer Rakib Uddin Mondal.
Earlier, on Sunday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the atmosphere was favourable in Gazipur City Corporation ahead of the election.
"There is a good atmosphere in the city... Everything is fine; there is no problem. We hope the Election Commission will hold a good election,” he added.
