Khulna Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Md Rezaul Haque has warned that any violence or violation of the election code of conduct during the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections and referendum will be dealt with strictly, regardless of the offender’s influence.
He said law enforcement agencies would not tolerate crimes such as ballot box snatching or obstruction of official duties and vowed firm action against anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process.
The DIG made the remarks while addressing a media briefing at the Bagerhat District Police conference room on Monday night.
He said police and other law enforcement agencies are on the highest alert to ensure a free, fair, impartial and peaceful election.
Rezaul Haque warned that any police member found behaving unethically, either in uniform or plain clothes, would face personal responsibility, adding that harm to any voter would not be tolerated.
He said law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to ensure peaceful voting at risky polling centres, safe transportation of ballot papers and election materials, protection of minority communities, and prevention of money influence, syndicates and terrorist activities.
A total of 2,000 police personnel and 7,000 Ansar members will be deployed across four parliamentary constituencies in Bagerhat district, he said, adding that the Navy, RAB, BGB, Army, Coast Guard and intelligence agencies will conduct joint surveillance.
He said 547 polling stations have been brought under CCTV coverage. Besides, 75 micro, 63 Mahindra and 12 Honda mobile patrol teams, along with nine striking forces, will be deployed.
During the election period, nine judicial magistrates, 26 executive magistrates and four Electoral Inquiry Committees, and joint district and sessions judges will remain in the field, he added.
The DIG also said transactions exceeding Tk 1,000 through mobile financial service bKash have been temporarily restricted as per Election Commission directives to prevent illegal money transactions.
Senior police officials and representatives of local journalists were present at the briefing.
