Law enforcers are collecting information on about 600,000 polling officers who will be appointed in the upcoming 11th national elections. Most of the polling officers will be government officials and college and school teachers.
Teachers of several schools and colleges told the Daily Observer that different intelligence wings are collecting information on the field level officials ahead of the polls. They said law enforcers are noting down their names, full addresses and their political affiliations during student life. The Intelligence wings are more active in collecting information on the presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, source added.
Each poling centre will deploy 15 to 18 members of the security forces. Preparations for the 11th national elections have geared up around three months ago. In a probable move, the government is in the process of a massive reshuffle in the civil and police administrations at the field-level, ahead of the polls. At least 10 DCs and 20 SPs have already been transferred in the last 10 days.
Home Ministry has also planned a massive reshuffle in the police department and transfer of several senior police officers is likely to take place soon. Sources reveal that the Home Ministry is preparing a list of the police officials to be transferred.
As per the Constitution of the country, general elections must be held within the 90-day period before the expiry of the five-year tenure of the current Parliament. There are more than 104.3 million voters registered in 300 constituencies across the country.
According to the Election Commission, there will be 220,000 voting booths housed in 44,000 polling centres spread across 300 constituencies of the country.
Each polling centre will have a presiding officer, while each booth will have an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers. In total, 600,000 polling officers will be appointed. The Election Commission will hold special review meetings with the Home Ministry, top officials of the law enforcement agencies, returning officers and field officials regarding security measures.
Article 126 of the Constitution allows the Election Commission to deploy army personnel along with law enforcement agencies if necessary to conduct a free, fair and peaceful election. The army was on the ground for 15 days during the 10th parliamentary polls.
Earlier, KM Nurul Huda Chief Election Commissioner said the EC is yet to decide on the deployment of the army to further reinforce security, and the decision will be taken after reviewing the overall law and order situation prior to the polls.
