Army to be deployed during poll

The army will be called out to help the civil administration hold a 'fair and credible' election, the Chief Election Commissioner has said.

The army had been deployed in previous general elections also.

“Conducting polls in 300 constituencies across the country in one day is very tough. The number of voters is also huge,” Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said on Monday evening in an address to the nation.

“That’s why we have decided to deploy everyone’s favourite and trusted armed forces across the country alongside the VDP, Ansar, police, RAB, BGB and Coastguard during the 10th parliamentary election.”

The CEC’s recorded speech was broadcast on government-controlled Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.

In the speech, he announced the detailed schedule for the election on Jan 5.

Troops had been called out in all the previous national elections in the country. However, elections to local government bodies and by-polls were held without army deployment during the Awami League-led administration.

Opposition BNP has been demanding troop deployment ‘in the interest of holding fair elections’.

Election Commission officials said over 0.5 million members of different forces were needed to maintain law and order in the 300 constituencies.

During the previous parliamentary election held in 2008, around 50,000 members of the armed forces were called out.

The CEC, in his speech, urged the officials and employees to carry out their election duties without fear. “There is a call for repaying the debt to the country. Perform your duty absolutely neutrally and fearlessly and in accordance with the law,” he said.

He appealed to the voters to choose their representatives for the next Parliament based on their own judgement. “It is not just their constitutional right; it is their duty and responsibility.”

“Ensure your rights by exercising your franchise…Make your judgement. Do your national duty without fear,” he said.

Ahmad assured that all measures would be taken to ensure the voters’ safety.

He hoped that with everyone’s help the commission would be able to give the nation a peaceful, fair and credible election.

Election Commission officials said the Representation of the People Order (RPO) did not have any provision before 2001 for army deployment in polls. But members of the forces were called out in all the national elections to maintain law and order.

In a 2001 ordinance, the phrase ‘defence service’ was included in the definition of ‘law enforcing agencies’.

But the law was revoked in 2009, letting the government turn down the EC’s request for army deployment in the Narayanganj City Corporation and Habiganj-1 and Brahmanbaria-3 by-elections.