The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

High police officials yesterday ruled out any possibility of sabotage to disrupt the 9th parliamentary elections of December 29 anywhere in the capital.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Naim Ahmed said they have no information about any attempt to sabotage the election. He at the same time pointed out that highest security measures have been taken to tackle any such situation in the city.

After a monthly crime conference and election security-review at Rajarbagh Police Lines auditorium, he elaborated an unprecedented security preparations being taken for the polls that will determine the fate of the country's transition to unalloyed democracy.

Replying to a question, Naim Ahmed said police have been conducting drive in city residential hotels and suspected houses to rein in suspects who might create trouble to hamper the polls.

"We are closely watching the activities of the trouble makers," he said.

Expressing his satisfaction over the existing law- and-order situation, the city top police boss hoped that such condition would also prevail on the election day.

A record-high 38,928 members of police, Ansar and Village Police will be deployed in the capital to facilitate smooth holding of the crucial general election which was once cancelled in January last year amid a political turmoil.

The voting will take place in the capital and its outskirts in a total of 1,834 polling centres, 875 of those have been identified as "most vulnerable".

In view of the special context in which the elections are being held, two Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, two bomb-disposal units, 16 uniformed womens' teams and eight plainclothes womens' teams will be put on standby-readiness to strike on call.

They are being deployed as Specialised Supportive Force for the polling day, which the government has declared as a public holiday.