Dhaka: Some 80,000 law enforcers from Police, Rab, Ansar, BGB and Coast Guard have been deployed on election duty for four days starting from Sunday, for the three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Besides, 492 magistrates including 33 judicial magistrates have also been engaged on election duty to punish incidents of election violence and breaching the polls code of conduct in the election areas.

According to a circular issued by the Home Ministry, a total of 536 mobile teams of police and Rab will remain on patrol, while 66 other teams of police are working as striking force taking positions along different strategic points in the cities, for the elections slated for 28 April.

Besides, 100 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 7 platoons of Coast Guard have been deployed on the election duty in the three city corporations – Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). A platoon usually is comprised of 30-35 members.

Teams comprising 22 law enforcers will guard each polling station, with teams of 24 ensuring security to polling stations considered vulnerable in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The 22-member team of law enforcers is comprised of seven police men with firearms, including SI, ASI and five constables, three Ansar members with firearms, and 12 Ansar-VDP members carrying sticks.

The 24-member team comprises seven policemen with firearms, including SI, ASI and five constables, five Ansar members with firearms and 12 Ansar-VDP members with sticks.

The regular law enforcers and members of BGB have been deployed on election duty for four days from Sunday to Wednesday.     

As there are 2701 poling stations in the three corporations – 1093 in DNCC, 889 in DSCC and 719 in CCC-- and most of the stations have been defined as important ones, nearly 64,000 law enforcers are required to guard the polling stations.

In DNCC, as many as 144 mobile teams --72 mobile teams comprised of Police, APBn and Battalion Ansar and 72 other of Rab— are on patrol, while 18 other teams of police act as striking forces. Besides, 35 platoons of BGB and two platoons of Coast Guard were also deployed in the DNCC election areas.

In DSCC,  as many as 228 mobile teams -- 114 mobile teams comprised of Police, APBn and Battalion Ansar and 114 others of Rab— are on patrol, while 28 other teams of police act as striking forces. Besides, 35 platoons of BGB and two platoons of Coast Guard were also deployed in the DSCC election areas.

In CCC, as many as 164 mobile teams --82 mobile teams comprised of Police, APBn and Battalion Ansar and 82 other of Rab— are on patrol, while 20 other teams of police act as striking forces. Besides, 30 platoons of BGB and three platoons of Coast Guard were also deployed in the CCC election areas.

Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam said some 80,000 law enforcers are engaged on elections duty in the three city corporations.

As per the circular, three battalion of the army have also been deployed on the election duty in three corporations, but they’re staying inside the cantonments as reserve force and will act as striking force to face situation coming out from the cantonments only at request of the returning officers.

Election Commission Shah Nawaz on Sunday told UNB that the Election Commission has taken foolproof security measures for the city corporation elections to avoid any untoward incidents.

He hoped that the elections would be held in peaceful manner and voters will be able to cast votes amid enthusiasm.