Police have sought around Tk 686 million to perform their poll duties during the municipal elections on Dec 30.
The home ministry sent a letter in this connection to the Election Commission on Wednesday, seeking in advance a sum that is Tk 136 million more than what the EC had earmarked.
A total of 73,780 police personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order during the Dec 30 polls in 233 municipalities.
The Election Commission has, meanwhile, rejected a proposal by several political parties, including the BNP, to have troops deployed during the polls.
The Commission has earmarked Tk 1 billion for the law enforcing agencies for being out on election duty.
An official of the EC’s budget wing said police had already sent their monetary proposal, while the Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard and Ansar were expected to do so shortly.
He said the EC would be guided by its own judgement regardless of what the police might want. “The EC has an allocation of Tk 550 million (for police). It won’t go beyond that,” he said, requesting anonymity.
The official said over 100,000 law enforcers, mostly police and Ansar personnel, would be deployed to guard polling stations and for patrols.
The home ministry letter said Tk 114.2 million would be required towards the allowances of police personnel, Tk 361.2 million for transport, TK 55.8 million for dry food, Tk 89.5 million for intelligence gathering, and Tk 65 million to meet other expenses.
Source: Bd news24
