Police have identified 67.48% of polling stations as risky in Rajshahi ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum.
Polling stations with previous records of violence across the district’s six constituencies have been classified as risky. Of the total, 217 polling stations fall under the jurisdiction of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP). Eighty-seven centres have been identified as highly risky, and 116 as risky.
Under the district police, there are 561 polling stations, of which 322 have been marked as risky and 239 as general.
The RMP area covers Rajshahi Sadar constituency and parts of Rajshahi-3, Rajshahi-5, and Rajshahi-6 constituencies. The district police operate through eight police stations, while the metropolitan police have 12.
According to police, each risky polling station under the RMP will have four armed police personnel, two armed Ansar members, and 10 police and female Ansar members equipped with batons. At important and general centres, three armed police personnel, two armed Ansar members, and 10 baton-equipped police and female Ansar members will be deployed. Body-worn cameras will be used at important polling stations.
Meanwhile, ballot papers for five of Rajshahi’s six parliamentary constituencies—excluding Rajshahi-2 (Sadar)—have reached the upazila level. The ballots were dispatched to nine upazilas on Sunday under strict security arrangements.
Each ballot convoy from the Rajshahi District Returning Officer’s office was accompanied by an executive magistrate, law enforcement personnel, and election officials. The ballots were delivered to designated locations under special security measures.
Rajshahi District Senior Election Officer Motawakkil Rahman said ballot papers have already reached all upazila election offices and have been stored in designated strong rooms. He added that on February 11, ballot papers and other election materials will be sent from the upazila level to polling stations. Ballot papers for Rajshahi-2 (Sadar) will be distributed to polling stations from the Rajshahi Madrasa Field on the same day.
Additional Superintendent of Police Sabina Yasmin said that adequate security arrangements have been made at all 561 polling stations in the district.
RMP spokesperson and Deputy Police Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said polling stations under the metropolitan police have been categorized as most important, important, and general, and that all necessary security measures have been taken to ensure a peaceful election.
