A five-tier security measures have been taken for making the Wednesday's Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) polls free, fair, participatory, peaceful and acceptable to all as around 4,500 law enforcers will work for maintaining law and order.
Security officials said around 3,500 members of police, 400 personnel of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 200 of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 1,860 of Ansar will discharge election duties.
Meanwhile, BGB and RAB personnel have already started patrolling the city areas to ward off any tense situation since Monday.
BGB sources said they have already deployed 10 platoons of BGB to avert any untoward incident and maintain peace in the metropolis.
The BGB members as the striking force have started patrolling different city areas to ensure overall security.
RAB-5 Commanding Officer Lt Col Riaz Shahrier said more than 400 RAB members have started performing duties since Monday and they will continue their duties till June 22.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Commissioner Anisur Rahman said more than 3,514 policemen will remain in the election duty till the next three days after polls, adding that Ansar will also be deployed.
He said all the policemen were kept on high alert so none can violate the election code of conduct. Foolproof security has been ensured in all the polling centres.
"We have taken all sorts of security measures to make the election proper and successful," asserted Anisur.
He said additional security measures will be arranged for the risky centres.
Meanwhile, restriction has been imposed on the staying of outsiders and carrying firearms including the licensed ones and traffic movement on the election.
Possessing and carrying of all sorts of firearms has been banned from June 20 to June 23 in the city corporation area. However, the restriction will not be applicable for law enforcers and other institutional security men.
Referring to the vehicular movement, the RMP commissioner said plying of taxicab, microbus, jeep, pickup van, car, bus, truck, tempo, baby-taxi, auto-rickshaw, easy-bike and all other mechanized vehicles will be restricted from July 20 midnight to June 22 midnight.
Besides, plying on motorbikes will remain suspended from June 20 midnight till the morning of June 22, he continued.
However, vehicles can be used by officers and employees engaged in election duties and other law enforcement agencies and ambulances and vehicles engaged in emergency and utility services will remain outside of the purview of the restriction.
Campaign ends
Contestants for both mayor and councillors posts for RCC polls have concluded their 19-day long hectic campaign Monday midnight.
The candidates, particularly the heavyweight mayoral one, were seen arranging a huge procession and showdown on the last campaign day.
They also met voters irrespective of age, sex, creed and caste with posters and leaflets to drum up support for them from early morning to midnight.
A total of 161 candidates remained in the election race. Of them, three for mayor, 112 for general councillors in 30 wards and 46 for 10 reserved seats for women councillors.
The mayoral candidates are — Bangladesh Awami League nominated and former mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton (Boat), Jatiya Party candidate Saiful Islam Swapan (Plough) and Jaker Party Latif Anwar (Rose).
All of them announced their election manifestos promising to work for welfare of the city dwellers.
RCC election Returning Officer Delwar Hossain said there are 3,51,982 voters to exercise their right of franchise in EVM in 1,153 rooms of 155 polling centres in 30 wards from 8am to 4pm without any break.
He said securities of all the voters will be ensured at any cost on the day of balloting. The EC has been working in a proper coordination with local administration and law enforcement agencies so that the voters can return to their respective residences safely after casting their votes.
Installation works of close circuit cameras in each of the polling centres are on the final stage.
He said 30 mobile courts led by executive magistrates are working here to monitor the election. Magistrates will remain with the striking force police, RAB and BGB in every ward.
Ten judicial magistrates will also work. At every polling centre, 22 to 24 police and Ansar men will be deployed.
Besides, one observer will remain in each of the 30 wards on behalf of the EC.
