Police have classified polling centres as “more important”, “important”, and “general”

653 polling stations marked ‘more important’ in Chattogram over risk potential

Police have labelled over 600 centres in 16 Chattogram constituencies as “more important” over potential “risk”.

Of the 1,965 polling stations in Chattogram, 607 fall under the 16 stations of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), while the remaining 1,358 are under 17 district police stations.

Police have classified the centres into three categories: “more important”, “important”, and “general”.

Among the 607 centres under the CMP stations, 310 have been designated as “more important”, and 343 centres under the district police have received the same classification.

The necessary law-enforcing personnel will be deployed to both “normal” and “risky” centres based on factors such as location, distance from candidates’ residences, and potential risk of unrest.

CMP spokesperson Aminur Rashid told bdnews24.com, “We have divided the centres into three parts, taking into account the instructions of the Election Commission and other factors.

“Police will be deployed there per the instructions.”

A home ministry circular issued on Jan 7 said each polling centre in the metropolis will have four armed police officers, two armed Ansar officers, and 10 police personnel with batons, along with women Ansar officers.

Additionally, each “important” and “general” centre will be staffed with three armed policemen, two armed Ansar officers, and 10 police and women Ansar officers equipped with batons.

Chattogram district police have classified 343 centres as “more important”, 688 as “important”, and 327 as “general”, a spokesperson told bdnews24.com.

Assistant Commissioner Aminur said of 607 centres under their jurisdiction, 310 have been classified as “important”, 150 as “less important”, and 147 as “general”.

Chattogram Police have mapped centres by constituency:

Chattogram-3: 83 centres, 49 “important”, 24 “more important” (Sandwip)

Chattogram-4: 92 centres, 42 “important”, 48 “more important” (Sitakunda, Wards 11-12, Akbar Shah)

Chattogram-5: 105 centres, 74 “important”, 30 “more important” (Hathazari, Bayezid Bostami)

Chattogram-6: 95 centres, 20 “important”, 21 “more important” (Raozan)

Chattogram-7: 92 centres, 44 “important”, six “more important” (Rangunia, Dakshin Rangunia)

Chattogram-8: 85 centres, 57 “important”, 25 “more important” (Boalkhali, Bayezid, Panchlaish, Chandgaon)

Chattogram-12: 113 centres, 63 “important”, 24 “more important” (Patiya)

Chattogram-13: 71 centres, 32 “important”, 13 “more important” (Anwara, Karnaphuli)

Chattogram-14: 100 centres, 31 “important”, 42 “more important” (Chandanaish, Satkania)

Chattogram-15: 157 centres, 79 “important”, 59 “more important” (Lohagara, Satkania)

Chattogram-16: 112 centres, 21 “important”, 41 “more important” (Banshkhali)