154 more polling centres in six northern districts
Voters decline by about 6 lakh: Controversial centres set up for 2007 polls cancelled
District election offices have finalised list of 2,554 polling centres in Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonir-hat, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts against its earlier number of 2,400 prepared before the parliament election scheduled for January 22 last year (later postponed).
As many as 154 polling centres were added in the area despite decrease in the number of voters by about six lakh as some new centres were set up to comply with the EC rules for keeping a polling centre for every 2500 to 3000 voters.
The hurriedly set up 'controversial' polling centres prior to last year's postponed election were either cancelled or shifted to 'neutral' places.
This time the EC authorised district election officers to set up polling centres where necessary while concerned deputy commissioners earlier conducted the task.
The numbers of voters in the area is now 57 lakh while it was about 62.7 lakh according to the list prepared in 2006, said District Election Office sources in Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonir-hat, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh.
In Nilphamari 459 vote centres have been set up this time while it was 403 before last year's postponed election. In Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha, the number of polling centres are 662, 311 and 536 against 657, 262 and 521 last year. In Thakurgaon and Panchagarh the number of vote centres are 360 and 226 against 333 and 224 last year.
The number of polling booths is 13,688 while it was 11,590 last year. As per EC rules, a polling booth is to be set up for every 400 voters in average.
The Election Commission has kept a provision for setting up a polling centre for every 2500 to 3000 voters. But prior to last year's postponed election, the rule was not followed in many cases and there were even 5,000 to 7,000 voters against a centre in some places, District Election Office sources said.
“Parliament and upazila parishad elections will be held in December in the same vote centres. The voters would have to cast vote in three ballot papers in Upazila Parshad election, one for Upaqzila Parishad chairman, another for male vice chairman and the other for female vice chairman. This would need much time. So, the number of vote centres has been increased for smooth voting,” said Kurigram District Election Officer Md Zulhasuddin.
“From the experience of election in four city corporations and nine municipalities, maximum presence of voters is expected in the upcoming polls in December. The polling centres have been increased as per Election Commission rule. It was needed for convenience of voters,” Nilpha-mari District Election Officer Sekander Ali said.
In the second week of October this year, authorities published a primary list of 2,472 polling centres in the six districts. Complaints and recommendations from the voters concerned were considered before finalising the list of polling centres, election office sources said.
Prior to the postponed election of January 22 last year, the then election authority hurriedly set up 3400 more new polling centres throughout the country in addition to 29,978 centres set up for the 2001 elections. At that time a good number new vote centres were set up in the six districts.
The opposition parties at that time raised allegations that certain political quarters managed to set up those new polling centres to favour ruling party candidates to manipulate the January 22 elections.
While making primary lists of polling centres for the election scheduled for December this year, district and upazila election offices found authenticity of the allegations. The 'controversial' centres were shifted to 'neutral' places or cancelled before publishing the primary list of polling centres in October. A few polling centres were shifted as they became vulnerable due to river erosion.
“Controversial polling centres have been shifted or cancelled. The Election Commission this year authorised district election officers to take decision about setting up new polling centres where necessary. Earlier it was the task of deputy commissioners,” said Suvas Chandra Sarker, acting deputy election commissioner of Rangpur region.
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