TOUSIF KAIUM and MOHAMMAD JAMIL KHAN

Police have identified 13 constituencies across nine districts as “high risk” ahead of the February 12 national election, after analysing political violence since the announcement of the polls schedule on December 11.

Meanwhile, reports indicate possible sabotage and clashes.

According to a police intelligence report, the identified seats are those where heavyweights are contesting, and incidents of violence have already been reported.

At least 57 clashes occurred in 50 constituencies, leaving 257 people injured and four killed since the polls schedule was announced, police officials said.

The high-risk constituencies are: Pabna-1 and Pabna-3; Khulna-5; Patuakhali-3; Barishal-5; Tangail-4; Sherpur-3; Dhaka-8 and Dhaka-15; Cumilla-4 and Cumilla-11; and Noakhali-2 and Noakhali-6.

Police data shows that of the 57 clashes, 25 occurred between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, while eight were intra-party clashes within the BNP, and another eight took place between the BNP and independent candidates. Around three were between the BNP and the National Citizen Party, an electoral ally of Jamaat.

“We have given instructions to increase security and police presence in these constituencies,” a senior

SEE PAGE 5 COL 1