Bangladesh yesterday stepped up security in a bid to contain violence during a general election expected to see Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina win a record fourth term.
Authorities deployed about 600,000 police, army and other security forces ahead of today’s vote, a senior official said, following a deadly campaign marred by clashes.
The forces — which also include the elite Rapid Action Battalion, navy, border and coast guards, and auxiliary police units — are providing security to about 40,000 election booths.
Photo: AFP
“We have ensured the highest level of security in Bangladesh as per the capacity of the country,” said Rafiqul Islam of the election commission.
“We hope there will be a peaceful atmosphere,” he said.
Clashes have gripped the Muslim majority country of 165 million in the run-up to the polls.
Thirteen people have been killed and thousands injured in skirmishes between supporters of Hasina’s ruling Awami League and activists belonging to the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The BNP, which boycotted the 2014 election, says its supporters have been deliberately targeted in a bid to deter them from voting and rig the election in Hasina’s favor.
The Awami League and BNP are leading their own alliances in the country’s 11th parliamentary polls since it gained independence in 1971.
The BNP, whose leader Khaleda Zia is in prison on graft charges, has accused the election commission of bias during the electoral campaign — a charge rejected by Bangladeshi Chief Election Commissioner K.M. Nurul Huda.
The opposition says that about 14,000 of its activists have been detained since the election schedule was announced on Nov. 8.
It also alleges that about 12,000 activists were injured in attacks by ruling party followers, which the ruling party denies.
Election authorities were still hopeful the vote would be credible, Islam said. “We’re trying our best to have a free and fair election.”
The US has raised concerns about the elections, while the UN called for greater efforts to make the vote fair.
Islam added that authorities might slow down Internet speeds on election day in an effort to “prevent the spread of rumors,” which could trigger unrest.
The country’s telecoms regulator on Thursday shut down higher speed Internet services before restoring them on Friday morning.
The election commission has also imposed restrictions on public transport and cars on polling day in an effort to maintain security and “conduct the election smoothly,” he said.
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