Security high, so is apprehension

The much talked about electioneering in Gazipur City Corporation has ended at midnight yesterday amid widespread fears of vote-rigging.

Supporters of Awami League nominee Jahangir Alam and BNP nominee Hasan Uddin Sarker marched through the city and held rallies in the afternoon.

But the air of festivity that usually precedes an election is somewhat missing in the city which goes to polls tomorrow amid additional security measures taken by different agencies.

Hasan said his opponent Jahangir was planning to snatch the ballots away.

Jahangir, meanwhile, claimed his counterpart had anticipated defeat and was making false claims.

He also claimed that his opponent belonged to a violent family. "My mother warned me about it, but I am ready to make any sacrifice for Gazipur residents."

Voicing concern at a press conference at his house yesterday, Hasan alleged that policemen of Khulna range were deployed in Gazipur to make sure the polls resembled the one held in Khulna in May.

A three-member delegation of BNP leaders met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and demanded withdrawal of the superintendent of police in Gazipur.

After meeting the CEC, BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan told The Daily Star that the SP was biased towards the ruling party and was harassing BNP leaders and activists.

Meanwhile, a group of AL central leaders campaigned in Gazipur defying EC restrictions.

In Khulna City Corporation polls, stuffing of ballots and other irregularities were reportedly rampant. Wearing badges of the AL electoral symbol, activists allegedly intimidated voters at polling centres.

The BNP at the time alleged that their agents were driven out of most of the centres.

In addition to asking outsiders to leave Gazipur city, the EC's code of conduct has restricted campaign activities 32 hours ahead of the polls and vehicles for 24 hours from midnight today.

FEAR IN PUBLIC MIND

Harun-ur-Rashid, a fruit seller in Duet area, said, "If my vote is not cast by others and the environment remains normal, I will cast my vote."

Ibrahim Mia, a three-wheeler driver, said, "I will go to the polling centres in the morning and then decide whether I will cast my vote."

Solaiman Haq, a young voter of Mirer Bazar area, said, "The situation is not ok now. There is no festivity and no one is talking about the election. If the administration wants, a fair election is possible."

BNP nominee Hasan at a press conference at his house in Tongi yesterday alleged that his party leaders and activists were arrested en masse.

“Our agents are being threatened by police. They are telling our agents to flee the area,” he said.

He also alleged that law enforcers arrested BNP activists in Gazipur, but claimed that the arrests took place in Narayanganj, Tangail, Mymensingh and other neighbouring districts.

"Even with minimum level of fairness, I will win by a respectable margin."

He hoped that the government would fully implement the EC rules and regulations.

His opponent Jahangir also held a press conference at his house in Gazipur and said Hasan was making false claims rather than seeking people's vote.

"I have doubt if he [Hasan] even knows all of his agents," Jahangir told reporters.

"He cannot give a single example of me harming the election environment."

Jahangir said Hasan was elected in 1986 and 1988 in the city corporation by rigging.  

RULING PARTY BREACHES CODE OF CONDUCT

Senior AL leaders campaigned defying the EC's restriction on outsiders in the city corporation area after Saturday night.

The EC on June 22 issued a circular banning outsiders in the city until the election was over.

Defying the ban, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Noufel, organising secretary of AL Dhaka division, campaigned in the city and held a meeting with reporters at Jahangir's house yesterday.

When a reporter produced a copy of the EC circular, Noufel said, "I am sorry. I did not know about it. I am leaving immediately."

Talukdar Abdul Khaleque, mayor of Khulna and president of the city AL, also campaigned for Jahangir at Gazipur Chourasta.

Atiqul Islam, mayor aspirant of Dhaka North City Corporation, Sramik League leader Ramesh Chandra and several others attended a meeting at Jahangir's house.

They also left after hearing about the EC ban.

Jahangir said, "I was not aware     of the ban as I was very busy campaigning."

SECURITY BLANKET

A huge number of law enforcers have been deployed in the area.

Rakib Uddin Mondal, returning officer of the polls, said at each of the 57 wards of of the city, there would be a force combining police and Ansar. Moreover, 29 platoons of BGB were already deployed.

Of the the 425 polling centres, 337 are most important, he said.

Mohiul Islam, company commander of Rab-1, said 700 Rab members would be deployed.

Didar Ahmed, deputy inspector general of Khulna Range police, said 300 policemen were sent to Gazipur.

A total of 3,000 police personnel from Dhaka, 260 from Rajshahi and 300 from Mymensingh ranges were deployed in the city.