Staff Correspondent
The Army will remain deployed as the striking force for 15 days from
Thursday for the maintenance of law and order to ensure peaceful conduct
of January 5 polls in 146 out of 300 parliamentary constituencies.
“An army camp will be set up in every district. The army and BGB will act as striking forces and will be accompanied by magistrates,” Chief Election Commissioner CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad announced emerging from a high-profile meeting that finalised the date for the army deployment.
Senior officials from law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting held at the National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium.
Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz told The Daily Star army will not be deployed in five districts where voting will not take place in any seat on January 5 as not a single candidate has got any rival in those seats.
As many as 154 candidates, including those from the five districts, are already set to be declared elected unopposed.
The opposition alliance, which has been enforcing blockades countrywide since the announcement of election schedule on November 25, has threatened to intensify the agitations to resist the election. More than 120 people have been killed in less than one month since November 25.
In this situation, army personnel will start discharging their duties from December 26 to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the January 5 voting.
The CEC did not say anything about the size of troops to be deployed for the election.
“We have given a framework. The final figure will be determined on the basis of local law enforcement requirements and intelligence agency reports,” he told reporters.
The number of personnel from different enforcement agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) to be deployed will be determined by the home ministry soon, he added.
Army has been deployed since the country’s first parliamentary election held in 1973. The troops were empowered with the sweeping authority before 2001 polls to arrest anybody for violation of electoral laws within a 400-yard radius of the polling stations.
The army men deployed in election duty enjoyed the authority in 2001 and 2008 polls. The AL-led government scrapped this authority in 2009. So, they will perform their duties in this election under command of magistrates.
CEC Rakibuddin said the EC has already kept the public administration affairs minister informed about the necessary number of executive magistrates.
The army was deployed for 12 days in 2008 polls, and 15 days in 2001. The CEC, however, said the period of the army deployment might differ from place to place as places with worsened law and order might see army deployment for longer periods.
“Law and order situation across the country is developing”, the CEC quoted superintendents of police present saying at the meeting.
“An army camp will be set up in every district. The army and BGB will act as striking forces and will be accompanied by magistrates,” Chief Election Commissioner CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad announced emerging from a high-profile meeting that finalised the date for the army deployment.
Senior officials from law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting held at the National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium.
Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz told The Daily Star army will not be deployed in five districts where voting will not take place in any seat on January 5 as not a single candidate has got any rival in those seats.
As many as 154 candidates, including those from the five districts, are already set to be declared elected unopposed.
The opposition alliance, which has been enforcing blockades countrywide since the announcement of election schedule on November 25, has threatened to intensify the agitations to resist the election. More than 120 people have been killed in less than one month since November 25.
In this situation, army personnel will start discharging their duties from December 26 to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the January 5 voting.
The CEC did not say anything about the size of troops to be deployed for the election.
“We have given a framework. The final figure will be determined on the basis of local law enforcement requirements and intelligence agency reports,” he told reporters.
The number of personnel from different enforcement agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) to be deployed will be determined by the home ministry soon, he added.
Army has been deployed since the country’s first parliamentary election held in 1973. The troops were empowered with the sweeping authority before 2001 polls to arrest anybody for violation of electoral laws within a 400-yard radius of the polling stations.
The army men deployed in election duty enjoyed the authority in 2001 and 2008 polls. The AL-led government scrapped this authority in 2009. So, they will perform their duties in this election under command of magistrates.
CEC Rakibuddin said the EC has already kept the public administration affairs minister informed about the necessary number of executive magistrates.
The army was deployed for 12 days in 2008 polls, and 15 days in 2001. The CEC, however, said the period of the army deployment might differ from place to place as places with worsened law and order might see army deployment for longer periods.
“Law and order situation across the country is developing”, the CEC quoted superintendents of police present saying at the meeting.
