The Dhubri deputy commissioner-cum-returning officer Dev Kumar Kalita on Sunday visited Bhogdanga village, which is located outside the Indo-Bangla border fence.
The polling booth in Bhogdanga village under the Golakganj constituency in Dhubri district is located outside the international border fence but within the Indian territory.
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Out of the total 267.5-km-long international border that Assam shares with Bangladesh, a 153-km stretch of the border falls under Dhubri district.
People who vote at the Bhogdanga polling station come from two villages – Bhogdanga and Fauskarkuti – which are outside the border fence but within the Indian territory.
There are 386 voters in Bhogdanga village, out of whom 206 voters are male and 180 are female while four voters are of the age group of over 80 years.
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The remote location of the villages poses a major hurdle for the people and the residents of the villages have to depend on the timing for opening of the border gates for access to basic needs in markets across the fence on the Indian side.
The border gate closes at 4 pm daily.
“We have made all the security arrangements and the BSF personnel will be helping us to ensure the smooth conduct of polls,” said an election official in Dhubri.
Dhubri deputy commissioner Dev Kumar Kalita said, “Our main target is to ensure that each and every voter can exercise their voting right across the district, including in areas close to the international border.”
A meeting was also held at Bhogdanga Lower Primary School among the villagers, led by village head Haleshwar Rai and officials of the district administration led by the deputy commissioner.
The DC was accompanied by district development commissioner Banshree Nath, chief executive officer of Dhubri Zila Parishad Animesh Talukdar, Dhubri election officer PP Barman and BSF assistant commandant Dharam Chandra Sinha.
A senior BSF official said personnel of the border force will be engaged in helping voters by providing all necessary security cover.
“BSF personnel keep strong vigil along the border. As the election is round the corner, we have to be extra-cautious so that miscreants do not disrupt the poll process,” said a senior BSF official.