BNP now wants judicial powers for army during city polls

Having seen the Election Commission accede to its demand to deploy army in city polls, the BNP now wants judicial powers for the troops during the elections.

The party’s Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed after meeting the chief election commissioner (CEC) on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the decision to deploy army in the polls.
 
He, however, told reporters that they will be of no use if they are only kept for patrol.
 
Earlier, Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told the media about the decision to deploy army from Apr 26 to 29.
 
The three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong will go to election on Apr 28.
 
The Election Commission has written to the Armed Forces Division seeking three battalions to use them as ‘striking force’ during the polls.
 
The BNP, softening its demand to hold snap polls under a ‘neutral’ caretaker government, has been demanding deployment of army during the city polls since the beginning.
 
Ruling Awami League leaders said army would not be needed for the local government polls.
 
The ruling party, however, welcomed the EC’s decision to deploy army and said it would support the commission’s every step to hold a fair election.
 
BNP leader Moudud said, “I am happy that army will be deployed. But it will not work much if the army only patrols the streets.”
 
“We hope that the objective of the army deployment will be fulfilled and they will be given the power of magistrates,” the former law minister said.
 
CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, however, said the army will not have the judicial powers.
 
“But,” he added, “Magistrates will be with them. They will have the judicial powers.”
 
“Judicial activities are dictated by law. Everything needs to be done following the law. It won’t work if you violate the law,” he said.

He dismissed Moudud’s claim that the army deployment will not be fruitful if they were not given judicial powers.

BNP leaders also spoke about the attack on their chief Khaleda Zia’s motorcade during a campaign on Monday.

They brought allegations of harassment of their activists, irregularities in recruiting presiding officers and shake-up in police.

About the attack on Khaleda’s motorcade, Moudud said, “It has deeply damaged the election environment.”

He mentioned that three BNP-backed councillors had been arrested and demanded that the EC instruct police not to harass any other leader of the party in the next seven days before the elections.

CEC Ahmad said he ordered an investigations into the attack on Khaleda and resolve the issue immediately.

“We’ve received information from police. They said the two sides have filed cases. We’ve asked police to investigate the attack impartially and resolve it as soon as possible,” he said.