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EC sits today to finalise upazila polls security

Staff Correspondent
The Election Commission (EC) will hold a high-level meeting today to finalise steps to ensure law and order during the January 22 upazila parishad election.
Chiefs of police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Ansar and representatives of the Armed Forces Division will attend the meeting to be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda.
The meeting to be held at 11 am at the National Economic Council Auditorium at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city will also finalise other essential prerequisites to successfully hold the election to 481 upazila parishads in a free, fair and credible manner.
The meeting will review the law and order situation in the 4 ran up to the election and take necessary steps to maintain it during the post-election period by cracking down on criminals, musclemen and extortionists.
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The meeting will also discuss the security in carrying election materials from one place to another.
The EC has already decided to deploy army personnel to help ensure peaceful holding of the upazila polls across the country from January 20, deviating from its earlier decision in this regard.
Although the commission earlier decided not to deploy members of the armed forces during upazila polls, it has recently changed its decision apprehending deterioration in law and order during the election.
Members of the armed forces will remain on duty as striking force from January 20 to January 24.
The home ministry has already decided to deploy over 5,00000 security personnel across the country to ensure law and order during the election, which will be the first poll under the newly elected Awami League-led grand alliance government. 1 • 1
The EC will start sending polls materials to field levels from January 14. A total of 22 crore three-colour ballot papers have already been printed, Sources in the EC Secretariat said
Voters in 481 upazilas will enjoy a public hobday on the polling day for the local government election. However, voters under the city corporation areas would not enjoy the holiday.
Voters having identity cards will exercise their rights to franchise in 1,74,742 booths, an increase of around 12,000 booths from the December 29 parliamentary polls.
This is for the first time that transparent ballot boxes and indelible ink are to be used in upazila polls.