CHATTOGRAM, Dec 30: The polling of the 11th Jatiya Sangshad election was held, by and large, peacefully with a festive mood excepting some stray incidents in all 23 constituencies of Greater Chattogram on Sunday.
Though the voter turnout was little low in the morning due to cold weather the number rose sharply with the passing of time. The balloting continued till 4 pm without any break. Long queues of voters were seen in polling centers.
Meanwhile, some untoward incidents took place at Satkania, Patiya, Pekua, Rangamati and Banshkhali. In those incidents at least five people were killed and 100 others injured.
The Election Commission (EC) in collaboration with local administration took up five-tier security measures in the constituencies of greater Chattogram city and district for holding the 11th parliamentary polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
The EC as part of its security measures has embarked upon a plan to deploy 8,000 police forces, 2100 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 1500 members of the security forces and Navy in the said constituencies for conducting a peaceful election.
Besides, 25,000 Ansar and village defence forces have been kept ready to discharge their duties during election period.
EC sources said at least two to three platoon armed forces were deployed headed by an Army Major for each platoon in each constituency in addition, to oversee the polls activities in all constituencies.
71 platoon security forces patrolled in the city. Naval forces have been deployed in Sandwip Island besides coast guards and police forces.
Besides, 46 mobile teams of RAB have been deployed in the said constituencies of Chattogram district and city.
A total of 156 candidates from different parties contested in the polls in the 23 constituencies including three (fully) in Chattogram city and partly three others in the city and district.
