Joynal Abedin Khan :Unprecedented security measures have been taken ahead of city corporation electrons in Dhaka and Chittagong scheduled on April 28.As a part of measures, the non-voters of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) elections were asked to leave the cities by Saturday midnight, police and returning officials said on Saturday.The returning officers and police warned that tough action will be taken against the floating people specially who have come Dhaka and Chittagong for the purpose of the city corporation elections, they said. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said that a three-tire security has been taken to hold a free and fare city elections.Asaduzzaman Mia disclosed this in a press conference at DMP media centre in the capital on Saturday afternoon. “DMP also banned carrying of firearms from 25 April to 1 May. Legal steps under the Arms Act will be taken against those defying this rule,” the DMP commissioner said. Dhaka metro police on Saturday imposed a ban on holding all kinds of rallies and processions from 12:01am of Monday to 12:01am of Thursday midnight, DMP boss said. The DMP has also imposed ban on plying motorcycle in the city from Saturday midnight to Wednesday morning, he said. However, the vehicles of polling agents, journalists, national and foreign observers, law enforcement agency members, fire service and ambulances can move in the city with the permission of returning officer, the DMP commissioner said.The detective members already have started drive to resist the purchasing of vote with black money, he said.”DMP already has identified 1429 risk polling centres out of 1982 and necessary steps be taken to areas,” he said.At least 23 mobile courts and 31 striking force will petrol in two city corporations, the police official said.Seventy platoons of BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) members will be deployed during the city polls, the DMP boss said.A group of 12 policemen and Ansar members with firearms will be deployed in each major polling centre, he said.Ballots of Dhaka North will be counted at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre and voting of Dhaka South will be counted at Mohanagar Natyamancha amid tight security,, he said.All the poling centers and places of announcing result of vote will be brought under control CC cameras, the police official said. No candidates are allowed to set up a camp within 400 yards of a polling centre, he said. “We will set up a main control room on the city’s Abdul Gani Road and four others sub-control rooms also will set up to observe the law and order situation during the casting vote,” the police official said. All the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will observe the law and order situations during the cities polls, he said. He said two mobile teams of police would be patrolling in each of the 93 wards in two city corporations.In the meantime, Chittagong City Corporation Returning Officer Abdul Baten told the New Nation that all types of security measures have been taken to hold a free and fare city elections.”We already has issued a notice to carry and show any valid fire arms from 6:00am on Saturday to Friday midnight,” the returning official said. All kinds of rallies and processions also banned in the city from 12:01am of Monday to Thursday midnight, he said.All the poling centers and places of announcing result of vote will be brought under control CC cameras, Abdul Baten said. However, the CMP also imposed a ban on all vehicular movements from 12 midnight on April 27 to 12 midnight on April 28, the police official said.Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) secretary Sirajul Islam on Saturday said a total of 80,000 law enforcers including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar, coastguard members, will be deployed in the upcoming city corporations elections.Sirajul Islam was talking to journalists at his office at EC Secretariat in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at noon.He further said the army will be kept ready at the cantonments and they would extend help whenever the returning officer calls them to ensure security of polling centers.The EC secretary also said they have completed all kinds of preparations including sending logistics to Chittagong.Sirajul Islam further said 22 law enforcers, including 10 armed personnel, will be deployed at every center and 24, including 12 armed personnel, for important centers.
