Muktdesh Desk: The Election Commission (EC) has formally requested the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to deploy an adequate number of police personnel to ensure 24-hour security at the Nirbachan Bhaban ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for February next year.
In a letter signed by Shahid Abdus Salam, deputy secretary and chief security officer of the EC Secretariat, the commission stressed the need to reinforce security measures as election preparations intensify.
The letter noted that on October 25 this year, around 11:10pm, unidentified miscreants detonated a crude bomb in front of a sculpture located inside the Nirbachan Bhaban premises.
Due to commercial activities continuing in front of and around the building during evening hours and on holidays, often until midnight, the area remains at risk after office hours, the letter said.
Citing the heightened priority of the upcoming election, the EC requested the DMP to immediately deploy the required number of police personnel and to shut down such commercial activities in order to strengthen security patrols in and around the premises.
The commission emphasised that the measures must be taken on an urgent basis to ensure round-the-clock protection of the building.
