DHAKA: All electoral campaigns of the forthcoming municipal election have come to a complete end at midnight (12:00am) of 28th December.
The candidates are not allowed to conduct any kind of electioneering including informal meetings from that time from now on.
According to the electoral code of conduct, the campaign must stop 32 hours prior to the voting.
The count of that 32 hours starts from Monday midnight.
The Election Commission (EC) will take vote for 234 municipal areas on December 30 (Wednesday).
As many as 900 candidates for mayoral posts and 1,200 candidates are competing for the councilor posts. A total of 19 political parties gave nominated candidates for mayoral election.
The EC has also taken all kinds of preparation for the polling. Some 2.25-crore ballot papers are sent to the electoral areas with the necessary equipments. Trained polling officers are also prepared for the day.
Other than that, more than 70,000 security personnel have been deployed to keep the law and order situation under control. Another 70,000 will be assigned at the polling centers on the day of the vote.
So, a grand total of more than 140,000 personnel from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, Coast Guard and Ansar will be engaged during the vote day.
The EC has already asked the local administration to detain the marked anarchists.
According to a report of an intelligence agency, 1,121 of BNP, 561 from ruling Awami League (AL), 211 of Jamaat-e-Islami, 4 of Jatiya Party, 10 from JSS, 1 from PCP and other 121 marked anarchists are already active in the field.
They are supported or sheltered by 637 godfathers.
Among godfathers, 312 are from BNP, 211 from AL, 77 from Jamaat and one from PCP and JSS each and 35 others. These people are threats for a free and fair election.
These people may refrain the minority voters from voting by threatening them using muscle power.
Moreover, the agency is apprehending that these marked criminals may hijack vote or create violence. Particularly northern part of the country is under special attention.
The report also mentioned that these anarchists have pipe-guns, revolvers, shooters, guns, pistols, short rifles and other weapons in their possessions.
Regarding the vote, EC secretary Sirajul Islam has asserted banglanews, ‘Our preparation has ended. Now it’s time for Vote’.
BDST: 0008 HRS, DEC 29, 2015
AIK/RS/RR
** Campaign ends at midnight, all set for polls
