269 polling stations in Pabna identified as risky ahead of national election

A total of 269 out of 702 polling stations in Pabna district have been identified as risky ahead of the 13th national election, according to police officials.

Pabna has five parliamentary constituencies with 702 polling stations. Among them, 433 have been classified as general centres, while 269 are considered risky. Of the risky centres, 78 are marked as highly risky and 191 as less risky.

The information was confirmed by the Special Branch of the Pabna District Superintendent of Police (SP) office.

The district administration said adequate security measures have been taken to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

According to the administration and law enforcement agencies, around 13,000 government officials and members of security forces will be deployed across the district during polling. The deployment includes 31 executive magistrates, about 1,200 army personnel, 2,300 police members, 120 RAB members and 9,126 Ansar personnel.

Pabna Superintendent of Police Anwar Zahid said each polling station will have 13 Ansar members, three of whom will be armed. Depending on the sensitivity of the centre, between two and five police members will be deployed. Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), RAB patrols and mobile striking forces will also remain active. Executive magistrates, plainclothes police and intelligence agency members will be on duty as well.

“Our goal is to ensure a peaceful, neutral and acceptable election environment for the people of Pabna,” the SP said.

The total number of voters in Pabna’s five constituencies is 2,274,319. Of them, 1,144,926 are male, 1,129,376 are female and 17 are third-gender voters.

In Pabna-01, four candidates are contesting the election. The constituency has 337,723 voters and 94 polling stations.

Pabna-02 has five candidates, with 492,476 voters and 140 polling stations.

In Pabna-03, eight candidates are in the race. The constituency has 482,802 voters and 176 polling stations.

Pabna-04 has seven candidates, 437,145 voters and 129 polling stations.

Pabna-05 has four candidates contesting, with 524,173 voters and 163 polling stations.