Out of 203 constituencies of Khagrachari parliamentary constituency, 189 are dangerous and 68 of them are high risk, district police and other intelligence agencies have sent a list to the Election Commission. Among these, polling materials and personnel will be sent by helicopter to Naraichari border township of Babuchhara union of Dighinala upazila and Futyachhari and Shuknachhari centers of Barmachari union of Lakshmichari upazila. Besides, all centers are classified into three categories from distance, voter location, influence of candidates, communication and law and order considerations. Out of this, only 14 centers are considered as general centers. 1,21 centers are at risk and 68 centers are high risk.
According to the list of Election Commission, 68 out of 203 centers are more vulnerable. Most of these 16 centers are in Khagrachari Sadar Upazila. Then 11 in Ramgarh, 10 in Guimara, 9 in Manikchari, 8 in Mahalachari, 5 in Matiranga, 4 in Dighinala, 3 in Panchari and 2 in Lakshmichari are more vulnerable.
Analyzing the list, it has been found that the total number of voters of Khagrachari parliamentary constituency is 5 lakh fifty four thousand 114 people (Male: 2 lakh 80 thousand 2 hundred 6 and female: 2 lakh 73 thousand 9 hundred 4). Out of this, the total number of voters in 68 more vulnerable centers is 1 lakh 49 thousand 626 people.
Upazila-wise, 40 thousand 486 people in 16 centers of Sadar upazila, 27 thousand 731 people in 11 centers of Ramgarh upazila, 27 thousand 264 people in 10 centers of Guimara upazila, 23 thousand 382 people in 9 centers of Manikchhari upazila, 20 thousand 5'34 people in 8 centers of Mahalchhari upazila, 13 thousand in 5 centers of Matiranga upazila. 699 people, 11 thousand 18 people in 4 centers of Dighinala upazila, 6 thousand 653 people in 3 centers of Panchari upazila and 2 thousand 2 thousand 38 people in 2 centers of Lakshmichari upazila.
Among the 4 high-risk centers of Dighinala upazila, Babuchara has 3. Alkesh Chakma is the voter of Nunchari constituency of this union. He said from the experience of being elected to the post of UP Chairman,Khagrachari has relatively fewer polling stations than plains. And the inhabitants of the hilly areas live scattered. The Election Commission has never considered this reality of life and livelihood.
Gagan Vikas Chakma, chairman of this union, also expressed a similar opinion.
All the polling stations of Vaibonchara, Perachra and Khagrachari Union of Khagrachari Sadar Upazila are more vulnerable. It is said that after talking to ten voters of these three unions, there are only three polling stations in Golabari union. It was evening at the end of the day. However, if at least three more polling stations were made in this union, it would have been convenient for the voters.
Barmachari union of Lakshmichari upazila is separated from the upazila headquarters in terms of road communication. Residents of this union come and go through Khiram-Nanupur-Nazirhat-Bibirhat of Fatikchari. Former vice-chairman of this UP Nirmal Kanti Chakma said that many residents here have to reach the polling station a day earlier. Otherwise it is almost impossible to come and vote on the day.
Voters of 35 neighborhoods of 4 wards will vote at Sapmara Government Primary School Center of Matiranga Union of Matiranga Upazila. Most of the voters in this center are tribal and poor. The distance of each ward from the polling station is at least five/seven kilometers on foot.
8 out of 10 centers in Ramgarh municipality are high risk.
2 out of 5 centers in Patachhara union are more vulnerable. If the center is increased, the risk will be reduced. This is the demand of the voters.
Professor Bodhiswat Dewan, former president of Citizens for Good Governance and former principal of Government College, thinks that the central arrangement of parliamentary elections is necessary considering the geography-demography-settlement-life-livelihood and quality of life of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Khagrachari District Election Officer SM Shahadat Hossain said that these centers have been identified on the basis of special DSB examination of the police and all kinds of initiatives will be taken for peaceful voting.
Khagrachari Superintendent of Police (SP) Sayem Mirza said that considering the location and geographical aspects, we consider the centers where the candidates will vote as risky. Each center will have a fixed number of members of the law enforcement force, besides, additional members will be deployed in the centers which are very risky, he said, patrolling and surveillance will be increased.
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