65,000 law enforcers to provide security,undecided on army deployment

The Election Commission plans to secure the Apr 28 Dhaka North, South and Chittagong city corporation polls with a four-day security blanket involving around 65,000 law enforcers.

There are no plans to deploy the army yet, although BNP feels ‘free’, ‘fair’ and ‘acceptable’ polls would be impossible without it.

 However, the chief election commissioner and EC officials say the matter would come up for discussion during  the final pre-poll meeting with law enforcers on Apr 19.

Since previous city corporation polls were held without army deployment, the commission had left it out of their preliminary proposal.

“The commission will decide instantly to deploy the army if evaluation reports of returning officers, detectives and top officials recommend it ,” an official said requesting anonymity.  

According to the EC draft plan, the law enforcers would be in the field from Apr 26 – 29 and they would take position at the poll centres a day before the vote. RAB-Police teams could also be deployed as stationary units at the poll centres.

Teams of Police, Rab, BGB and Ansar personnel would work as the mobile and striking force.

At least, 286 executive magistrates would be tagged with the strike forces on the poll day  for immediate action against those  violating the poll code.

Other than them, nine judicial magistrates would be assigned at Dhaka North, 14 at Dhaka South and 10 at Chittagong for the total four days. 

The meeting is also expected to identify risky centres and the commission plans to deploy 24-man teams there. The normal vote centres would have a 22-man stationary team assigned to them.

File Photo

62,000 law enforcers are expected to be deployed as static forces at the 1,093 centres in Dhaka North, 889 in Dhaka South and 719 in Chittagong.

Other than them, a mobile and striking team comprising of Police, Ansar and Battalion Ansar would be assigned to each ward.

Along with them, 22 platoons of BGB, 7 platoons of Coast Guard and 68 RAB teams would be deployed if the situation merited.  

They would be tasked with handling more than 6 million voters trying to elect their local government representatives from 48 mayor and more than 1,100 councillors. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said, “We have total preparation to host a proper election. We have vote centre-based plans, one to ensure hassle-free passage of voters and the one of using striking and mobile forces.”

Police would be assigned to make outsiders leave poll areas by Apr 25 midnight. Returning officers would ensure no sort of rallies or processions are held in between midnights of Apr 26 and 30.

Motorcycles are banned from Apr 25 midnight and some other vehicles from Apr 27.

However, the ban would not be applicable for candidates, administration and permitted individuals. It would also not be applicable for national highways.