Intelligence departments of law enforcement agencies have identified 62 polling centres as the most vulnerable in Saturday’s Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls, and recommended special security measures to ensure a free and fair election.
Intelligence reports also suggested that the activities of 22 political leaders of the Ruling Awami League (AL), opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jatiyo Party (JP), be monitored.
Members of law enforcing agencies, including, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and Armed police battalion will maintain tight security in Gazipur city and surrounding areas to fend off any subversive acts ahead of the GCC polls. According to sources, among the 392 polling centres in GCC, the Election Commission (EC)has marked 225 of them as important ones.
In the general polling centres, around 22 members of police will remain on duty while 24 will remain at important centres. According to that statistics, a total of 5,400 members of police will be on duty at 225 important pooling centres and around 3,674 will be on duty at 167 the general ones.
Alongside these, 57 mobile teams with a total 684 members and 19 striking teamswith 228 members formed in co-ordination between Armed Police Battalion and Ansarwill also remain on duty during polling. On the other hand, 850 Rabmembers and seven platoons of BGB will remain alert to ensure fool proof security. Moreover, 50 executive magistrates and 10 magistrates will also be on duty at the GCC area.
According to reports, a total of 24 incident of killing, five incident of abduction, and other 11 cases were filed under the speedy trial while eight was filed in illegal arms act in the GCC area. The total security situation in the area deteriorated for several times in the last five months due to readymade garment workers’ agitation, especially following the Rana Plaza building collapse in Savar.
Intelligence reports also mentioned some 22 political leaders belonging to the ruling AL, BNP and JP, have been listed as they could sabotage the GCC polls activities.
Among the 22, some of the leaders’ names were identified as leader of Garment SramikOikkyo Forum Dulal Hossain, Joydebpur bus stand area BNP supporter Hannan Mia Hannu, Moklesur Rahman, Annu, AL leader ShafiulSarker, Lakkhan Chandra Sarker, Kamruzzaman, BCL leader Sagor, JCD leader Monir, Billal Hossain and JP leader Saiful Islam and JuboLeague supporter SattarMollah.
ATM Habibur Rahman, director of Legal and Media wing of Rab told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have taken all necessary steps to avoid any unwanted situation. With the security system of Rab-1, additional 850 divided into 28 groups will provide special security till the end of polling and if necessary will stay longer.”
When contacted, Abdul Baten, superintended of Police of Gazipur, said, all security measureshave been taken to hold a fair and peaceful election with the deployment of additional police, Rab, BGB, ansar and armed police.
“Besides, reserve police is also kept ready and will join in to avert unwanted situations,” he added.
