Law enforcers deployed for free, fair RCC polls

Around 1,400 members of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Ansar, Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Special Branch of police have been deployed in Rajshahi to maintain law and order during the city corporation polls.

The law enforcers will be working at 1,026 booths in 138 polling stations tomorrow to ensure no untoward incident occurs during the polls, reports our Rajshahi correspondent.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner AKM Hafiz Akther at the deployment ceremony at Rajshahi Police Lines this morning asked all the law enforcers to discharge their duties according to the law.

He also said he believes the law enforcers are capable to discharge their duties.

15 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in Rajshahi ahead of the election. They will remain deployed in the city till July 31. Photo: Anwar Ali Himu/ Star

According to the security measure taken centering the polls, 22 police and 24 Ansar men will be there in each polling station, said Joint Secretary of Election Commission Khandaker Mizanur Rahman, who was also present there.

"If the law enforcers along with the presiding officer discharge their duties properly, then there will be no need for the striking force," the joint secretary said.

"However, a striking force comprising with Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and executive magistrate and judicial magistrate will be on stand-by," he added.

Mizanur said the Election Commission wants to set an example by conducting a fair election in Rajshahi city and that the security measures that have been taken are much more than required. 

Meanwhile, Returning Officer Syed Amirul Islam said he is satisfied with the security measures.

An Election Control room has also been set up at the Rajshahi Government Laboratory Boys High School. Presiding officers have started collecting their ballot papers, ballot boxes and other election materials from the election control room and are shifting those to their respective polling stations with the help of their law enforcing teams, reports our correspondent.

Transparent ballot boxes, papers and other documents were distributed among the polling officials on Sunday, July 29, 2018. Photo: Bulbul Ahmed/ Star

In Rajshahi, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and current mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul are contesting for mayor post under the banner of Awami League and BNP respectively.

Campaign for the three city polls ended yesterday midnight amid allegations of polls code violation.

Meanwhile, 15 platoons of BGB have been deployed in Barisal, 15 platoons in Rajshahi and 14 in Sylhet ahead of the election. They will remain deployed in the three cities till July 31.