All preparations have been completed for Wednesday’s by-election to
the Kishorganj-4 constituency.
The by-poll was necessitated as the seat felt vacant after former
Speaker Abdul Hamid, who had been elected Member of Parliament seven
times from this constituency, became the President.
The President’s son Rezwan Ahmed Toufiq is on the fray with the poll
symbol of ‘boat’. Independent candidate and local Awami League leader
Mohitul Islam Asheem is contesting the polls with ‘football’ as his
symbol.
Voting will be held in 118 polling centres in 24 unions of the
constituency comprising Itna, Mithamoin and Ashtagram upazila. The
polling day has been declared holiday in three upazilas. Returning
Officer for the by-polls Mohammad Jahid Hossain said all the necessary
preparations are complete. A total of 6,000 personnel drawn from
various forces have been deployed.
“I hope the election will take place without any problem”, he said.
The ballot papers, ballot boxes, official seals and voter list have
already been sent to the centers.
The Election Commission in an announcement said 104 among the 118
voting centers are being considered risky or vulnerable. There are
2,77,118 voters in this constituency among them 1,39,303 are men and
1,37,815 women.
Local election office has identified 104 polling centres of the total
118 as vulnerable in the Kishoreganj-4 constituency which is set to go
to by-polls Wednesday.
The above information was disclosed at a preparatory meeting for
holding the by-polls at the conference room of the deputy
commissioner’s office on June 30.
Presided over by Returning Officer M Jahid Hossain, the meeting was
attended by Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner M Siddikur Rahman,
Superintendent of Police M Anwar Hossain and other high officials of
local Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and Ansar.
Meeting sources said three-tier security has been adopted for each of
the voting centres and a total of 6,000 members of different law
enforcing agencies would be deployed at all the polling centres.
M Gulam Ruhul Kuddus, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), who
was also present at the meeting, said 36 patrol teams of 325 members
and 12 striking forces would perform their duty in the constituency
till July 4, next day of the by-polls.
Major Majedur Jabed, deputy commander of BGB Netrokona camp, said a
total of 75 BGB personnel in three platoons will patrol the area
during polls.
SP M Anwar Hossain of Kishoreganj said 1,936 policemen would be
deployed alongside 200 armed policemen to maintain law and order
during voting and 594 ansar members would also be deployed to fend off
any untoward situation.
M Jahid Hossain said all necessary steps have been taken to fend off
any untoward incident during the election and government holiday has
also been declared for the day.
A total of 279,719 voters will cast their votes in 24 unions of the
constituency. -UNB, Kishoreganj
