The Election Commission has completed all preparations in Khulna to ensure that the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum are held in a free, fair, neutral and fear-free environment.
Ballot papers and referendum papers have already been delivered to the respective returning officers. A total of 840 polling centres across Khulna have been brought under CCTV surveillance as part of extensive security arrangements.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer A S M Jamshed Khondkar said all 840 polling centres in the district’s six parliamentary constituencies are now covered by CCTV cameras.
He added that the army has already begun working as a striking force, with around 1,100 army personnel deployed in the district.
He said two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and two platoons of Ansar will be on patrol in each upazila. Each polling centre will have 13 Ansar members on duty, including four armed personnel. In addition, one armed Ansar member will remain attached to each assistant returning officer.
Returning officer further said two magistrates have been deployed in each upazila. An inquiry committee has been formed under the leadership of a joint assistant judge. In Khulna city and outside the city areas, 40 executive magistrates and 14 judicial magistrates are performing duties.
Regarding vulnerable polling centres, he said the authorities are treating every centre as potentially risky, while 558 centres have been identified as highly vulnerable.
As a result, security will be further strengthened at those centres. Body cameras will be used at all polling centres to identify and take action against any unethical activities.
Patrol teams will visit each polling centre every 20 minutes and immediate action will be taken upon receiving any information about untoward incidents, he added.
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