Online Desk: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has said that a festive atmosphere was prevailing in the polling centres across the country, including Dhaka while the law and order situation was normal except one or two stray incidents.

He made the remark while briefing reporters after visiting Kabi Nazrul Islam Government College centre in Old Dhaka on Sunday.

The IGP said law enforcers including police performed their duty with professionalism at polling stations and election areas across the country.

Calling the vote casting a civic duty of people, he said the voters exercised their rights peacefully across the country in a festive mood.

Regarding the security measures centring the balloting, the IGP said they have divided the security system into three parts on the occasion of the election.

Members of law enforcement agencies were working to keep the overall atmosphere normal before, during and after the election, he said, adding that they are ready to face any sabotage or terrorist situation with the capacity.

Asked about the number of vulnerable voting centres, the IGP said they divided the centre into two parts-important and general while there are some important polling stations and atmosphere is normal everywhere.

Regarding the BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi’s allegation of ballot boxes being stuffed with seals on boats at night, the police head said, “The ballot papers went to the polling stations this morning. It is in front of you (journalists). You can tell when the ballot went to the polling station. You can judge how true this allegation is. Anyone would call this accusation baseless.”

Questioned about the presence of outsiders (fake voters) at Kabi Nazrul centre, he suggested the journalists hand over the fake voters to police while they would take legal action against them.

DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Additional Commissioner (Admin) AKM Hafiz Akhter and Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) Chief Md Jahangir Alam, among others, were present on the occasion.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman and Metropolitan DB Chief Harun-or-Rashid were also present on the occasion.