Daily Star

Political News
Volume 3 Number 735 Tue. September 25, 2001

Polls motivation campaign in Khagrachhari

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

The district information office has taken massive campaign for maximum turnout of voters in the coming October 1 general election.

The district information office is learnt to have been using loud speakers, playing audio cassettes, displaying information placards and videotapes, songs and open discussions to encourage people to come and vote.

In Khagrachhari there are 3,25,327 enlisted voters which is 39,202 more than the last voter list in the district. The election office here also said that the voter list includes 1,69,684 male voters and the rest 1,55,643 are female voters. Most of the newly enlisted voters are refugees returning from India. About 60,000 refugees returned home until now.

The total number of voting centres in the district is 157. Out of those 14 have been identified as highly vulnerable and 33 vulnerable. Six of the centres are most inaccessible. They are: Koiyachhari in Ramgarh, Manarathara in Dighinala and Barmachhari, Kuturchhari and Kutchhari in Luxmichhari.

For these centres the election commission would use helicopters for transporting officials and election related goods on the election day.

Voters in 3 CHT UZs fear PCJSS attacks

UNB, Bandarban

Scared by possible attacks by anti-election elements, candidates of the October 1 general election could not yet gear up their electioneering in three upazilas (UZs) of the district.

Voters in the three upazilas Thanchhi, Ruma and Roangchhari are reluctant to join election campaign apprehending attacks by PCJSS members boycotting the election.

Meanwhile, Parbatiya Chattagram Jano Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) circulated posters throughout the district urging the people to make their September 21 anti-election rally a success.

The candidates of the trouble-torn upazilas have urged the Divisional Commissioner for giving them police protection.

The Divisional Commissioner was learnt to have assured them of giving police protection only when all political parties will hold meetings in one upazila at a time.