Chittagong: As the ensuing city election comes under spotlight as another important electoral case study under the new government, police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) joined forces to forestall any trouble that could overshadow its successful holding.

Teamed up in six separate groups, they will share intelligence and go for mopping-up operations against illegal arms and terrorists, a top police officer told banglanews24.com.bd.   

The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls will take place on June 17 in the port city and the passage to the election may witness the flexing of muscles by the contenders, according to the law-enforcers.   

Keeping in mind the situation in the field that has become warm with the start of the electoral process, high officials of RAB and police sat in a meeting Thursday with Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Muhammad Moniruzzaman in the chair.

The newly formed special teams will have 30 intelligence personnel from both the forces and will kick off action Sunday, officials said.

“The special teams will keep an eye on the field and run in listed terrorists, recover illegal arms and guard against any trouble,” says one of them about the security bulwark being built for the port-city polls, coming as another acid test for the Grand Alliance government hot on the heels of a flurry of opposition criticism over the Bhola parliamentary by-election.

Assistant Commissioner Jahangir Alam Chowdhury of CMP’s Detective Branch and RAB adjutant Captain Mahfujur Rahman will coordinate the policing teamwork.

The teams, to be housed at the CMP headquarters, will be equipped with sophisticated arms and intelligence inputs from the RAB Intelligence Wing and police.

Police are already searching suspicious vehicles in the city. Check-posts have been installed at key points of the city, including Kaptai Road, City Gate, Oxygen crossing, Shah Amanat and Kalurghat Bridge.  

BDST: 1220Hrs. 14May, 2010.

PB/TA/FA/MUA/