The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

At least 600,000 law enforcers will be strategically deployed across the country as part of the Home Ministry security measures for trouble-free elections on December 29.

A senior armed forces official said about 50,000 troops had resumed duties.

The capital city will get a 'five-tier security' this year, says DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed. "There will be a five-tier security in 15 constituencies in the city and parts of Dhaka-2 constituency," he said.

Naim mentioned that the range of security measures had been enhanced for the city this time as the number of constituencies and polling centres had swelled.

"Past experiences, re-demarcation of constituencies and the law and order situation have been considered in drawing out the security plans.

The Election Commission, side by side, has formed a law and order maintenance cell that will keep abreast of the security situation one day before and one day after the elections.

The Home Ministry and law enforcing agencies had earlier assured that a three-tier security system, at least, would be ensured countrywide.

The largest single force throughout the country will be 466,000 Ansars, in addition to 80,000 police, 50,000 armed forces, 25,000 BDR and 6,000 Rapid Action Battalion personnel.

Some 284 judicial and some 715 executive magistrates have also been appointed with the power to hold summary trials.

A total of 35,216 vote centres and 177,107 voting booths will serve 81,058,698 registered voters around the country.

The EC had renamed voting centres in the lead up to polls this year as 'normal' and 'critical' from the previously 'non-risky' and 'risky' categories.

Home Ministry officials say 16 law enforcers, including three from army and one armed Ansar, will be stationed at each 'normal' voting centre in city areas with 14 law enforcers per centre elsewhere. 'Critical' centres will have 18 law enforcers including two more army personnel.

Army, BDR, RAB and armed police personnel will carry out the duty of striking force till December 31 in line with Home Ministry orders. They were deployed from December 24.

A total of 18 striking forces consisting Navy and Coastguard personnel will work along the coastal districts.

BDR forces, instead of armed forces, will carry out their duty as striking forces in 70 upazilas on the country's border belts. Besides, BDR and army together will act as striking forces in another 17 upazilas where border areas need extra surveillance.

The striking forces will take prompt actions in order to avoid any untoward or violent incident in line with directives from the civil administration, say officials.

Every district of the country will also hold one army battalion that includes 650 to 1,000 members.

Armed forces will remain constantly vigilant at strategic points so that presiding and returning officers can contact them at all times. They will assist police and Ansars on demand in maintaining law and order for polling centre security.

Massive drives had also been launched countrywide in the lead up to polls to arrest 'trouble makers' and suspected terrorists so that the December 29 vote should not be hampered, the officials say.