Bangladesh to beef up intelligence surveillance for elections in three cities

The Ministry of Home Affairs has drafted a notice with clear steps to increase intelligence surveillance for the looming elections in three cities.

The circular was sent to the Election Commission secretary on Tuesday for the green light.

This is part of an action plan for the city corporation elections in Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barishal, scheduled for July 30. A final notice will be issued once the Election Commission provides the green light.

Intelligence surveillance should be increased to curb the criminal activities and reduce the spread of rumour, according to the circular.

The district administration and police should have a joint meeting in order to maintain peace. The returning officer will coordinate the deployment of law-enforcement agents in polling centres and other parts of the cities, the circular suggests. 

Law-enforcement agents will be deployed to those three cities to tighten security, said EC Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmad Khan. They will be on duty from Jul 28 to Jul 31.

Border guards, RAB personnel, executive and judicial magistrates and a mobile strike force will be deployed in addition to the police in line with the EC’s requirement.

In a meeting on Thursday, representatives of law-enforcement agencies stressed the need for surveillance to curtail criminal activities and risks of violence prior to the election.

“We have been assured of a free and fair election. They agreed to provide all kind of assistance sought by the EC,” EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said on Monday.

Necessary directives have been given to ensure a peaceful environment and a ‘level-playing field’ during the election, he said.

Law-enforcement agents, however, have been instructed not to harass anyone, Ahmed said.

“We requested them not to harass anyone in the name of election. The environment must be free from fear.”

Candidates have sped up their campaign as the polling day neared. Both prominent political parties—Awami League and BNP—have been raising allegations against each other.

In a recent incident, three hand-made bombs were blasted near the meeting site of the BNP mayoral candidate in Rajshahi on Tuesday.

As part of the security plan, the authorities will bar outsiders from the voting areas from Jul 27. The campaign stops at midnight on Jul 28.

All kinds of the election campaign must stop 32 hours prior to the day of vote -- that is Jul 28 midnight. Processions or showdowns are also banned until Aug 1.

Police and local authority can take legal action against outsiders in case they remain in those areas in trying to change the direction of the election.