<i>Majority polling centres 'risky'</i>
A staggering 107 of the 194 polling centres in four districts of Sylhet division have been listed as vulnerable to violence ahead of the January 18 elections in 16 municipalities under the division.
Two of the risky centres are in Sylhet, 53 in Sunamganj, 43 in Habiganj and 9 others in Moulvibazar district.
“We have prepared the district-wise lists of vulnerable centres considering previous records of violence and location of centres,” said Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, deputy inspector general of police (Sylhet Range).
One of the seven polling centres in Zakiganj municipality and another one of the nine centres in Kanaighat municipality under Sylhet district have been marked vulnerable.
In Sunamganj district, 53 of 64 centres have been identified as vulnerable. They include 18 in Sunamganj, 14 in Chhatak, all the 16 in Jagannathpur and five in Derai municipality.
In Habiganj district, 43 out of 55 polling centres are vulnerable -- 16 in Habiganj, four in Shayestaganj, seven in Madhabpur and 16 in Chunarughat and Nabiganj municipalities.
Nine other vulnerable centres are in five municipalities of Moulvibazar district.
The district police of Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj have started special drives to arrest criminals, the official said, adding that the crackdown will be intensified two or three days ahead of the polls and continue until election results are announced.
Army personnel will also be deployed in municipalities to help maintain law and order, he said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments