More than half of centers risky in Sylhet

S A Shofiee, Sylhet :

The Election Commission says that more than half of the 1,016 polling centers in six constituencies in Sylhet are risky. There are a total of 33 candidates in the 6 constituencies. And the total number of voters is 29 lakh 16 thousand 579. There is apprehension among voters about these centers. There is also fear of going to the centers.

However, the administration says that extensive security measures have been taken in the centers identified as risky.

There are six parliamentary constituencies in Sylhet, surrounded by haors, hills and mountains. More than half of the total 1,016 polling centers in these constituencies are risky. The most risky center is in Sylhet-1 constituency. Out of 215 centers there, 159 are risky.

There is apprehension about fair elections in the risky centers. There is also fear among voters due to clashes in those centers in the past elections.

Voters say that the government should ensure that voters can go to vote spontaneously in this election. Security should be tightened more strictly in risky centers.

Civil society representatives say that voter turnout will decrease if adequate security measures are not put in place at risky centers. Therefore, they suggest increased surveillance.

Sujon President Shirin Akhter said that tea workers who are there will suffer from insecurity. As a result, many of them may refrain from going to the polling centers. This is likely to reduce the number of votes cast.

However, the administration says that security has been strengthened in all the centers identified as risky. Those centers will have various technological systems including CCTV cameras, drones, body-worn cameras.

Sylhet District Police Superintendent Kazi Akhtar ul Alam said, ‘The use of technology has started to strengthen security. We are placing body-worn cameras in important centers. This will allow us to see the situation in any center live.’