Polling for the Rajshahi City Corporation (RASIK) elections has begun in a peaceful atmosphere.
Voting started from 8 am on Wednesday (June 21).It will run non-stop till 4 pm. This is the first time Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is being used for polling. So this time many are exercising their right to vote with interest. In the beginning, there was no report of any disturbance anywhere.
Rajshahi City Corporation Election Returning Officer Md. Delwar Hossain said that there are 1 thousand 920 EVM machines for voting in 30 wards of the metropolis. This time, the total number of permanent polling stations in 30 wards of Rajshahi metropolis is 155 and there are 3 temporary polling stations. And the number of polling booths is 1 thousand 153. However, the Election Commission has identified all 148 polling stations as ‘risky’ except for 7. However, the Election Commission says that the centers that are not at risk are important.
Returning Officer Delwar Hossain said that total 155 centers have CCTV cameras. However, all these important 148 centers have CCTV cameras as well as additional security measures. The election commission is monitoring and controlling the election from Dhaka through these CCTV cameras. If there is any irregularity or mismanagement, immediate action will be taken. Anyone who tries to cause disturbance or violence in any center during the polling will be severely suppressed.
He also said that 16 members of the law and order force are deployed in each general center and 17 members in each important center for the security of the polling station. There are a total of 30 mobile forces and 10 striking forces consisting of Police, APBN and Battalion Ansar. 6 reserve striking forces and 16 teams of RAB and 7 platoons of BGB will be deployed in the city till the day after polling (June 22).
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Anisur Rahman said five levels of security measures have been taken for fair elections. RAB and BGB have started patrolling in the metropolis since yesterday. 5 thousand 800 members of the law and order force are performing their duties in the security of this election.
RAB-5 Commanding Officer (CO) Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Shahriar said that they are determined to ensure fair and peaceful elections. For this reason, 300 RAB members are in the field with the police and other law and order forces from 6 am on June 21. They are working in polling areas as striking force, mobile team, plainclothes detectives and bomb disposal unit.
He also said that 15 mobile and striking patrols of RAB-5, 10 jeeps with striking force commander, two striking force reserve teams are ready. Apart from this, plainclothes intelligence team, super mobile motorcycle team and ambulance team will be on duty during the election period. RAB’s special force helicopters at the headquarters are ready to control any unexpected situation.
Besides, election cell and control room have been set up to monitor the overall situation. All types of vehicles are being searched at the entrances while entering and exiting the city. He also said that these activities of RAB will remain in force till June 22.
Meanwhile, four candidates are competing for the post of mayor, 111 candidates for the post of councilors in 30 general wards and 46 candidates for the post of women councilors in 10 reserved wards.
