Election 2008Bandarban

112 out of 162 polling centres vulnerable

17 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Bandarban

Of the 162 polling centres in Bandarban parliamentary seat 112 have been marked as "important" or "risky", according to police. The number of risky centres is more in Bandarban Sadar, Ali Kadam and Lama. Helicopter will have to be used for conducting election in 15 remote centres in Ramnoma, Thanchi, Roangchhari and Ali Kadam. District election office sources said, the number of polling centres in JS-300 seat (Bandarban) has been increased to 162 this time from 156 during the last election. Though earlier choppers were used in 13 remote centres this time it would be required to go to two more centres. Officials concerned said considering lack of communication facilities and security the government and the Election Commission have been requested to arrange helicopters for transportation of the election officials and employees. Detective Branch of district police said, of the 37 centres in Bandarban Sadar upazila 26 have been identified as risky, 18 out of 20 centres in Roangchhari, 11 out of 18 in Romnoma, 11 out of 13 in Thanchi, 26 out of 36 centres in Lama, all the 15 centres in Ali Kadam and 5 out of 23 centres in Naikkhongchhari have been marked as risky. District Election Officer Kamrul Hasan, however, said in the latest guideline of the Election Commission instruction has been given to mention the "risky" centres as "important" instead of "risky'. Acting Police super Tutul Chakravarty said, police has marked the normal and important centres through investigation. Lack of communication, terrorism and crime prone areas, and number of voters in a centre have been considered in marking a centre as "important".