Union Parishad Elections
Plea for 14,000 more cops in Barisal
STAFF REPORTER, Barisal
Barisal police need a force of over 14,000 more personnel, including more than 3,000 extra officers, to hold the union parishad (UP) elections peacefully.
The Barisal district, metropolitan and range police have conveyed this to the Election Commission and have also taken steps to gather the extra personnel. Elections to a total of 261 unions are scheduled to be held here on March 22. Of the UPs, 12 are in the Barisal metropolitan area.
Election-related violence has sparked panic in almost every locality of the division. Three persons have been killed in Pirojpur, Bhola and Patuakhali, and over 200 injured in different places following attacks and reprisals during election campaigns.
Sources in the office of the Barisal deputy inspector general (DIG) said there are 2,543 voting centres in 261 union parishads of Barisal division. Of the total vote centres, 1,953 have been identified as vulnerable. Sources in the DIG office said according to the voting centres, a total of 17,454 police personnel, including 3,923 officers, are required there for peacefully holding elections. But at present, the police of Barisal Division in the six districts have only 3,008 police personnel, including 674 officers.
DIG Md. Humayun Kabir said, Weve sent a demand note to the authorities, but only time will tell us the number of police personnel that well get.
However, were ready to hold elections peacefully and are taking steps in this regard. ir Sources in the DIG office said Barisal range police placed a demand for a total of 14,365 extra police personnel, including 3,249 officers. Of the extra forces, 2,971 personnel (including 711 officers) have been sought for Barisal district, 2,694 (including 570 officers) for Patuakhali, 1,832 (including 375 officers) for Barguna, 1,762 (including 407 officers) for Jhalakathi, 2,002 (including 445 officers) for Pirojpur and 3,104 (including 741 officers) for Bhola district.
