EC, JP differ on number of vulnerable polling centres

The Jatiya Party has provided the EC with a list of 1,500 vulnerable polling stations and demanded that adequate security measures be taken for the centres.

The party also demanded deployment of a magistrate to curb election violence and irregularities in the vulnerable polling stations, according to presidium member SM Foysal.

However, according to the EC Secretariat, the number of vulnerable polling stations is 1,184 out of 3,403 across the 233 municipalities witnessing elections.

As ballot is not required in Parshuram municipality, where all the mayor and councillor posts have been filled unopposed, the votes will be cast in 233 municipalities on December 30.

Of the 1,184 vulnerable centres, 348 out of 991 in Dhaka division, 118 out of 304 in Rangpur, 246 out of 801 in Rajshahi, 195 out of 471 in Khulna, 45 out of 189 in Sylhet, 63 out of 167 in Barisal and 169 out of 480 in Chittagong.

SM Foysal yesterday alleged that ruling party men are carrying out attacks and harassing Jatiya Party's candidates and activists ahead of the December 30 municipal elections.

"Awami League candidates are attacking our candidates, obstructing their electioneering and intimidating them to pull out from the election race in many places," he told reporters after a meeting between the Jatiya Party's delegation and Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad at the EC Secretariat.

He said they raised some specific complaints at the meeting and the CEC assured them of taking steps regarding their allegations.

SM Foysal said they noticed the EC with grave concern that their candidates were being harassed in different areas.