Security Concerns Mount Ahead of Chittagong Elections

As Chittagong prepares for the upcoming general election, a detailed field investigation has revealed a stark disparity in the preparedness and security infrastructure across its various constituencies. Of the 1,965 polling stations spread across 16 parliamentary seats in the district, a staggering 1,291 have been classified as "vulnerable" or "at-risk." In the metropolitan area alone, 312 centres are deemed highly vulnerable, while the remaining 13 rural and semi-urban constituencies account for another 344 high-risk locations.

Infrastructure Gaps and Surveillance Deficits

Despite official assurances, on-the-ground inspections by journalists suggest a fragmented security landscape. While some urban centres have seen the installation of 999 CCTV cameras across the district, many rural polling stations remain devoid of basic surveillance. In Lohagara, specifically at the Tayyab Ashraf Government Primary School—a site notorious for electoral violence—preparations were noticeably lethargic on the eve of the polls. No cameras had been installed, and electoral booths had yet to be demarcated.

The situation is further complicated by physical infrastructure failures. Several polling stations, such as the Charpatharghata Government Primary School in Karnafuli, lack boundary walls, making them susceptible to unauthorised entry. In areas with classroom shortages, authorities have resorted to improvising voting booths using cloth partitions, raising concerns regarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy.

Regional Security Breakdown

Law Enforcement and Administrative Response

Police officials maintain that a robust security plan is in place. Additional Superintendent of Police Russell (DB and Industrial Zone) stated that the Election Commission’s designated forces would be augmented by separate police strategies for at-risk zones. In Sitakunda, where all 108 centres are classified as "important" (the official euphemism for vulnerable), Officer-in-Charge Mahinul Islam noted that 48 centres are receiving extra-priority status.

However, the lack of visible security cordons and the absence of "bamboo barricades" to manage voter queues in places like Sitakunda Degree College suggest that the logistical execution is trailing behind the official rhetoric. Factors influencing the "at-risk" designation include the distance from candidate residences, proximity to hilly or remote terrain, and historical precedents of electoral disturbances—such as the burning of ballot boxes previously witnessed in Anwara.

As the deadline for the polls approaches, the Election Commission faces the daunting task of ensuring that the 65% of centres marked as vulnerable do not become flashpoints for unrest, particularly in areas where physical boundaries and surveillance remain incomplete.