RAJSHAHI, July 18, 2018 (BSS)-Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) Shahadat Hossain
Chowddhury has said security of all the voters in the upcoming Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC)
election will be ensured at any cost on day of balloting.
The commissioner said the Election Commission will work in a proper coordination with local
administration so that the voters can return to their respective residences safely after
casting their votes.
Shahadat Chowddhury made the assertion while talking to news men after addressing a law and
order coordination committee meeting in the conference hall of Divisional Commissioner here
on Tuesday as chief guest.
He mentioned ensuring and maintaining peaceful situation is very important for making
the election scheduled to be held on July 30 free, fair and credible.
Side by side with the law enforcement agencies, the role of the contending parties is
very crucial for ensuring a congenial atmosphere. “Not a single unpleasant incident
will happen if the party leaders concerned control their workers and activists strictly,”
he further said.
In the meeting, he urged the law enforcers to discharge their respective duties with
utmost sincerity and honesty so that all sorts of untoward incidents could be averted.
Chaired by Divisional Commissioner Nur-Ur-Rahman, the meeting was addressed, among
others, by Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General of
Police Khurshid Hossain, RMP Commissioner AKM Hafiz Akter, BGB Sector Commander Col Anwar
Fuad and its Battalion Commander Lt Col Shamim Masud Al Ifte Khayere.
Additional Commissioner Aminul Islam, RAB Commanding Officer Lt Col Mahbub Alam, Deputy
Commissioner SM Abdul Kader, Regional Election Officer Syed Amirul Islam and District Election
Officer Atiar Rahman, among others, were present at the meeting.
Hossain said three-tier security measures will be ensured to make the election free, fair
and credible. All the agencies concerned,including the law-enforcement ones, will render
their duties properly to make the election meaningful and acceptable to all.
He said 30 mobile courts led by executive magistrates will work here to monitor the
election. Magistrates will remain with the striking force with BGB in every ward.Ten
judicial magistrates will also work.
At every polling center, 22 to 24 police and Ansar men will be deployed. Ten assistant
returning officers will assist the returning officer. Besides, one observer will remain in
each of the 30 wards on behalf of the Election Commission.
Returning Officer Syed Amirul Islam told the meeting that a total of 217 candidates are
contesting the RCC election. Of them, five for mayor, 160 for general councilors and 52 for
reserved seats for women councilors.
He said there are 3,18,138 voters, including 1,62,053 females, who will cast their
votes in 1,022 booths of 138 centers to elect one mayor, 30 general councilors and 10 women
councilors in reserved seats in the upcoming election.
Each ward will have a mobile striking force of RAB and police on the day of polling.