The law enforcers apprehended for violence among the supporters of the political parties and rebel candidates to win the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) polls scheduled on March 22 but Election Commission (EC) said they are ready to address such situation. The apprehension was reported at the law enforcers meeting with the chief election commissioner on Thursday.
The law enforcers said there is possibility of violence in the UP polls where there are rebel candidates of ruling Awami League, meeting sources said.
The intelligence report submitted to EC said, “The ruling party men may be involved in violence to win the elections. On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led 20-party alliance may instigate the violence in order to create pressure on the government.”
“The intelligence agencies apprehended violence in some areas because there are rebel candidates of the ruling party,” EC secretary Md Sirajul Islam told The Independent.
He further said that there is a commission meeting where EC will discuss what sort of actions would be taken to address the arising situation.
“We have a commission meeting. All the risky places will be finalised and the steps will be discussed to address the violence. EC is ready to contain any sort of violence to hold a peaceful election,” he added.
He further said that the law enforcers have assured them that they would not allow any
sort of violence and address it with iron hand. The meeting sources said that the chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad directed the law enforcers to increase their readiness in the field level.
The CEC also said them to take necessary steps to stop irregularities and violence in election areas. The meeting also decided to deploy 17 law enforcers in the general polling centre and 19 in the risky centre. It also proposed to deploy a mobile team comprising of police, APBN and battalion Ansar in each union and one striking force for three union parishads.
The meeting also decided to deploy two mobile team of Rapid Action Battalion and a striking force in each upazila while two mobile teams of Border Guard Bangladesh and a striking force will be in each upazila and the coast guard would be deployed in the coastal areas. The meeting also discussed the allegations of the irregularities and violence in submitting nomination papers.
Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed directed all to take necessary steps so that such allegations do not arise.
This is the first time the EC is going to hold the UP polls under party banner. The commission will hold all UP elections in six phases.