Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Feb 8, 2026 (BSS) - The police administration has taken steps to ensure additional security measures at 216 risky polling centers out of a total of 873 centers in six parliamentary constituencies of Rangpur district.

The remaining 657 polling centers will be considered as normal centers. 

Among the 216 risky polling centers, 121 centers are in the Rangpur City Corporation area and 95 in all eight upazilas of the district.

The Rangpur District Police and Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) sources said that the law enforcement agencies have identified 216 polling centers as risky in Rangpur-1, Rangpur-2, Rangpur-3, Rangpur-4, Rangpur-5 and Rangpur-6 constituencies.

As an additional security measure, dog squads will be operational in addition to body-worn cameras of the law enforcement members at these risky polling stations in the district during the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and Referendum on February 12 next.

According to police sources, among the 95 risky polling centers in eight upazilas, 11 are in Sadar, eight in Gangachara, seven in Taraganj, eight in Badarganj, nine in Mithapukur, 29 in Pirganj, 11 in Pirgachha and 12 in Kawnia upazilas of the district. 

Among the 121 risky polling centers in the Rangpur City Corporation area, 31 are in the RpMP's Kotwali Thana area, 35 in Haragachh Thana area, 15 in Hazirhat Thana area, 14 in Mahiganj Thana area, 10 in Porshuram Thana area and 16 in Tajhat Thana area. 

These polling centers have been identified as risky considering various aspects including high number of voters, previous arson and vandalism, absence of boundary wall, centers adjacent to the houses of influential leaders or candidates or political parties, remote and populated areas. 

The Rangpur Metropolitan Police will be in charge of the election in parts of three out of the six parliamentary constituencies in Rangpur district. 

In addition to performing duties in 204 polling centers in these three constituencies, separate security arrangements have been made in risky centers. 

In addition, 30 mobile patrol teams and 78 striking reserve forces will work on election duty. 

Deputy Police Commissioner (Crimes) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Toffael Hossain said that the Rangpur Metropolitan Police is working as per the instructions of the Election Commission to conduct the election peacefully in these three constituencies. 

"In addition, the Rangpur Metropolitan Police is ready to work with the army, BGB, RAB, and Ansar to give the nation a beautiful, free, fair and acceptable election," he said. 

According to the Rangpur District Election Office, among the total 873 polling centers in the district, 139 are in Rangpur-1 constituency, 137 in Rangpur-2 constituency, 169 in Rangpur-3 constituency, 163 in Rangpur-4 constituency, 152 in Rangpur-5 constituency and 113 polling centers in Rangpur-6 constituency. 

The total number of voters in the six constituencies of the district is 25,99,202, including 13,06,333 female voters, 12,92,838 male voters and 31 transgender voters this time.

Of them, the number of voters in Rangpur-1 constituency is 3,75,227, in Rangpur-2 constituency 3,80,921, in Rangpur-3 constituency 5,88,224, in Rangpur-4 constituency 5,99,906, in Rangpur-5 constituency 4,69,189 and in Rangpur-6 constituency is 3,55,735. 

Meanwhile, the election campaign has gathered momentum at the last moment in Rangpur where candidates from 14 political parties including BNP, Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Islamic Andolan are contesting this time. 
 
A total of 44 candidates, including seven independent candidates, are contesting six parliamentary constituencies in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election to be held on February 12.