Over half of polling centres in four cities vulnerable

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Law enforcement agencies have identified 353 polling centres out of 579 as vulnerable to violence in elections in four city corporations scheduled for August 4, and launched crackdown on criminals working in favour of candidates.

Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) and Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) started special drives last night to arrest alleged criminals. Similar operations would begin in two other city corporations within a day or two. The crackdown would be intensified two days ahead of the polls and continued until election results are announced.

Of the vulnerable polling centres, 138 are in Khulna City Corporation (KCC), 100 in Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), 63 in Barisal City Corporation (BCC) and 52 in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC). Ninety-three of these centres in three city corporations, except KCC, are most vulnerable to violence.

Sources in law enforcement agencies said they (agencies) have prepared separate lists of vulnerable centres considering previous records of violence and location of the centres. Some of the centres have been listed as vulnerable since those are located near the houses of candidates.

And they have a different list of criminals to be arrested before the polls as many on the pervious list are contesting the elections or working in favour of candidates.

Meanwhile, intelligence agencies have been closely monitoring law and order in the four city corporations and nine municipalities where polls will take place the same day.

BARISAL
Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) will work out details of its planned special drive at an emergency meeting today, Hayatul Islam, BMP assistant commissioner for Kotowali Model Thana, said when contacted.

BMP has already finalised a list of criminals involved in the electoral process.

It has identified 13 centres as ‘most vulnerable’ in 30 wards of BCC. Sixty-three vulnerable polling centres are under one police station and seven police outposts, reports our Barisal correspondent.

The most vulnerable centres include Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) office centre in Kawania, Sayeda Mojidunnesa Secondary School-1, Sayeda Mojidunnesa Secondary School-2, Alhaj Dalil Uddin Registered Primary School-1, Alhaj Dalil Uddin Registered Primary School-2, Khawja Moinuddin Chisti Senior Madrasa, Nuria Kindergarten, Nuria High School, Mathura Nath Public School-1, Mathura Nath Public School-2, Sagardi Union Secondary School, Sagardi Islamia Kamil Madrasa -1 and Sagardi Islamia Kamil Madrasa -2 centres.

Khan Sayeed Hassan, BMP commissioner, said there should not be criminal’s domination on polling centres while state of emergency has been relaxed for the polls.

SYLHET
SMP has prepared a list with 65 most vulnerable and 25 less vulnerable polling centres.

SMP Commissioner Syed Toufique Uddin Ahmed told The Daily Star yesterday that the list is based on previous violent incidents, and location of the centres, especially whether those are near the houses of candidates.

RAJSHAHI
Law enforcers have listed 15 polling centres in RCC as most vulnerable, reports our RU correspondent.

These include Kashiadanga centre in Ward -1, Daspukur Baharampur Private Junior School, Daspukur Baharampur Registered Primary School and Hazrat Shah Mukhdum Rupos Madrasa centres in Ward-3, PTI School and Julfia Govt Primary School in Ward-4, Mahisbatan Darus Salam Madrasha and Mahisbatan Govt Primary School in Ward-5, Upashahar Model Govt Primary School and Upashahar Model Govt Primary School (Old Building) in Ward -14, Annada Govt Primary School in Ward-18, Rani Bazar Girls’ High School (Ground Floor) and Rani Bazar Girls’ High School (1st floor) in Ward- 20, Dasmari Govt Primary School in Ward-29 and Budpara Govt Primary School centre in Ward- 30.

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