Police identified 185 out of 204 polling centres in the Khagrachari-298 constituency as risky ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum.
Khagrachari District Election Officer SM Shahadat Hossain confirmed the information provided by the district Special Branch. He said that 63 centres are considered “most vulnerable,” 122 “vulnerable,” and only 18 centres have been identified as “normal.”
According to the DSB, these risk assessments were determined based on the remote hilly terrain of the district, communication constraints, previous electoral experience, the law and order situation, the locations where candidates will cast their votes, and local socio-political realities.
Shahadat Hossain said, “SB has identified the centres as normal, vulnerable, and most vulnerable. However, the authorities have taken all preparations to ensure peaceful voting.”
Khagrachari Superintendent of Police (SP) Mirza Saiem Mahmud said that some centres were considered vulnerable due to their geographical location and because they are the sites where candidates will vote.
He assured that a designated number of law enforcement personnel would be stationed at every centre. He further said that highly vulnerable centres would see additional personnel, intensified patrolling, and increased intelligence surveillance.
Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Anowar Sadat mentioned that all operations are proceeding according to the directives of the Election Commission (EC) and the government. Candidates have commenced their campaigns following the allotment of symbols.
To prevent violations of the electoral code of conduct, 18 Executive Magistrates and one Judicial Magistrate are currently on duty. He expressed his expectation for a fair and successful election to be held in Khagrachari.
Data from the District Election Office indicates that there are 554,114 total voters in Khagrachari. This figure comprises 280,206 male voters, 273,904 female voters, and third-gender voters.
