Staff Reporter:
The Election Commission (EC) has written to the police seeking special security arrangements for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, four election commissioners and the senior secretary of the EC Secretariat.
The EC has also asked the police to ensure security at its field-level offices across the country.
According to EC sources, the directives were issued through separate letters sent to the police on Saturday.
In a letter addressed to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner, the EC mentioned that the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election was announced on 11 December, making special security arrangements necessary for the CEC, four election commissioners and the EC secretary.
The letter noted that the CEC is already receiving police security, including a vehicle, and requested additional police protection with another vehicle during the election period.
It also sought round-the-clock police security, including vehicles, for the residences of the four election commissioners and the EC secretary, as well as during their official movements.
In a separate letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the EC requested comprehensive security measures for its field offices nationwide.
The letter said that following the announcement of the election schedule on 11 December, miscreants set fire to the Lakshmipur District Election Office and the Mathbaria Upazila Election Office in Pirojpur.
In view of the incidents, the EC asked for the deployment of an adequate number of police personnel at all field-level EC offices across the country.
