UNB, Khulna
Special security measures have been taken in the city to ensure peaceful holding of free, fair and transparent election to the Khulna City Corporation (KCC).A total of 12,000 law enforcers will remain deployed in and around the polling stations and other places of the city on the election day.
At least 146 mobile teams of police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Rapid Action Battalion will perform security duty in the city.
Two police teams will also be on patrol in the Bhairab River.
Some 145 executive magistrates will be on election duty that day.
Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) sources said check posts have been set up at 16 points towards the city entrances to ensure security so that no outsiders can disturb the election environment.
KMP Commissioner Shafiqur Rahman said the law and order situation in the city is good enough, yet the city entrances are very risky.
Police have been kept on high alert to stop entry of terrorists from outside, he added.
BNP-backed and Nagarik Forum nominated mayor candidate Maniruzzaman Moni and Jatiya Party backed Khulna Nagarik Unnayan Committee nominated mayor candidate Shafiqul Islam Madhu demanded deployment of army on the election day for fair polls.
The KMP commissioner, however, said the city’s law and order situation is quite normal so there is no need for deployment of army for the election.
Awami League-backed mayor candidate Talukdar Abdul Khalek and Jatiya party leader Shafiqul Islam Madhu are conducting their election campaign with gunmen while BNP backed candidate Maniruzzaman Moni is conducting his campaign without any gunmen.
Moni did not ask for any gunmen from DMP, said police sources.
KMP deputy commissioner (CTSB) Rashida Begum said KMP provided gunmen to two mayor candidates as they demanded the same.
The KMP commissioner said there are 4,40,566 voters and 288 polling centers in the KCC area.
Of the polling centres, 202 are risky and important while the rest 86 centers are normal.
A team of police and ansar members, including 19 from police, 2 from ansar battalion and 19 from ansar, will be deployed in each of the important centers.
A team of 32 police and ansar members, including 14 from police, 2 from ansar battalion and 16 from ansar, will be on duty in each of the general centers, he added.
At least 97 mobile teams of police will be discharging security duty for whole the day.
Each team consisting of six police members will work for three centers while there will be also 31 striking forces of APBN, nine striking teams of BGB and nine of police.
Some 146 magistrates will work with the police, APBN and BGB.
Two teams of police will patrol the river ways.
Several control rooms will be opened at the offices of the returning officer and KMP on the election day.
Besides, striking forces will be deployed at the divisional commissioner’s office, district administration office and election office.
Around 530 wireless sets will be provide to the law enforcing agencies.
The KMP commissioner further said there will be need of total 6,215 police personnel for the election duty.
Addition police will be brought from several districts, he added.
