Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has recommended that Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) be closed on January 29 and 30 to facilitate the deployment of police and Ansar in the upcoming Dhaka North and South City Corporation (DNCC and DSCC) elections.
The DMP sent the letter to the Returning Officer's office on Thursday (Jan. 16). Krishna Paddy Roy, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Ops), wrote a letter on behalf of the DMP Commissioner.
Confirming the matter, Returning Officer Abul Kasem told barta24.com, “We have received a letter from the DMP. We sent a letter to the Election Commission's Senior Secretary to take necessary steps in this regard. The Commission will send a letter to the Ministry of Commerce asking them to take action.
The letter states that 10205 members of the law enforcers are to be deployed for 24 hours at the trade fair. Having a smooth, beautiful and safe election and completing the vote is one of the challenges for the security forces. It is necessary to deploy law enforcers at each center and also to deploy a greater number of police forces than usual for striking and mobile duty.
The letter also said that around 25,000 policemen, 1,000 APBN members and 35,000 Ansar members would be required to deploy on the day of the vote. It will not be possible to deploy a separate force for trade fair by performing the election duty properly. In view of these issues, the letter recommends that the trade fair be closed on January 29 and January 30.