Strict security measures taken as hundreds of centres risky
The authorities have made all out preparations, including adequate security measures, as the second phase of union parishad elections will be held in districts across the country today.
Meanwhile, a large number of poling centres have been identified as risky in view of different factors including pre-election violence, and relation among contestants.
All of the 110 polling centres in 11 unions of Hatibandha and one in Patgram upazila under Lalmonirhat district have been declared as risky, reports our correspondent.
The riskiest ones are in Bhelaguri, Saniazan, Fakipara and Nawdabansh unions of Hatibandha, said sources at Special Branch of police in the district.
As per requirement, law enforcers have been deployed at these centres to ensure security to enable people to cast their votes in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere, said TM Mozahidul Islam, superintendent of police (SP) in Lalmonirhat.
A total of 501 candidates, including 44 for chairman post, 113 for reserved seats for women, and 344 for general ward member posts, will contest in today's polls in these unions where 1,50,092 voters, including 74,574 males and 75,518 females, will exercise their right to franchise, election office sources said.
Our Dinajpur Correspondent reports: The election to 35 UPs of five upazilas in the district will be held today.
Against the backdrop of several clashes between candidates during the election campaign, sufficient force have already taken control of the polling centres of upazilas to prevent any untoward incident, said Rurul Amin, SP of Dinajpur.
According to district Special Branch of police, 155 of 318 polling centres in five upazilas of Dinajpur are marked as vulnerable.
Of them, 20 centres are in Bochaganj, 30 in Kaharol, 30 in Phulbari, 28 in Birampur and 47 in Nawabganj upazila.
Dinajpur district election officials said 134 candidates are contesting for chairman posts in 35 UPs of five upazilas, 391 women are vying for reserved seats while 1,142 candidates are contesting for general ward members under the 35 unions.
The total number of voters in the area is 6,46,580, including 1,28,452 in Phulbari, 1,14,593 in Bochaganj, 1,65,108 in Nawabganj, 1,27,551 in Birampur and 1,10,913 in Kaharol upazila.
Our Munshiganj correspondent adds: Six hundred and seventy eight candidates including 64 for chairman posts are contesting in the election to 14 union parishads under Srinagar upazila and four unions in Sirajdikhan upazila under the district.
Sufficient security measures have been taken to ward off any unwanted incident as a hundred polling centres have been identified as 'more risky' and 56 others 'risky', out of a total 166 centres in the 18 unions.
In Tangail, the law enforcers have identified 84 out of 123 centres in 13 unions, including seven in Gopalpur upazila and six in Bhuapur upazila under the district, as 'important', reports our correspondent.
Adequate forces have been deployed and the law enforcers will keep the 'important' centres under strict watch to hold the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner, said Saleh Mohammed Tanvir, SP of Tangail.
Twenty-seven people are contesting for chairman posts in seven unions of Gopalpur. The number of contestants in general member posts is 222 and that for reserve posts for women is 64, said sources at the District Election Office.
In six unions of Bhuapur, 26 people are contesting for chairman posts, 180 for general ward member posts and 59 for women's reserved posts.
Comments