EC wants cops on ground for 15 days from election day

Keeping in mind the possibility of post-polls violence, the Election Commission wants to have the law enforcers deployed for 15 days after the 12th parliamentary election, if needed.

The commission yesterday finalised its work schedule for the upcoming polls with the option that it would ask local police and the administration to take special measures to maintain law and order for 15 days after the polls, if needed.

Several EC officials said following the decision, they could direct local police and the administration to keep law enforcers on the ground for the period.

Usually, the law enforcers stay on the ground for two days from election day, they said.

Talking to this newspaper yesterday, Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman said many believe that 15 days after the polls is part of post-polls period.

"It is not mandatory that we will need to keep the law enforcers for 15 days from the polls day, but if necessary, we will make the decision. We decided this keeping in mind the possibility of post-polls violence."

The commission made the decision a few days after it asked the home ministry to ensure security for the EC's field-level offices which it fears "to be under threat before the national elections".

The EC on Thursday wrote to the Public Security Division seeking security after several field-level EC officials in a meeting expressed apprehensions of the offices being attacked if some parties boycott the polls.

They said that over 110 upazila and district offices were attacked during the 2014 election.

On October 9, eminent citizens in a discussion said a political consensus through dialogue is urgently needed to avoid possible violence in the days ahead as the Awami League and the BNP are at loggerheads over the polls-time government.

Meanwhile, the EC, in its works schedule, said the appointment of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers will be finalised 20 days ahead of election day. Special meetings with the law enforcers will be held 12 days before the polls, and the EC will send the names of the elected candidates to BG Press for publishing a gazette notification two days after the election is held.