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No plan to deploy army for city corporation polls: EC secretary
The Election Commission has rejected the BNP’s demand for deploying the army in Gazipur and Khulna City Corporation elections.
Published : 17 April 2018, 12:22 PM
Updated : 17 April 2018, 12:22 PM
The BNP also urged the commission to stop using electronic voting machines or EVMs in the polls, but the demand seems to have fallen flat.
EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said the commission would decide on the BNP’s demand for withdrawing Superintendent of Police Harunur Rashid from Gazipur after discussing it further at an internal meeting.
A BNP delegation has met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and four election commissioners at the EC office in Agargaon on Tuesday.
The leaders placed a 20-point demand, including army deployment seven days prior to the voting day, withdrawal of Gazipur police superintendent and a ban on EVMs in city polls.
“The commission will meet some of their demands in line with the law, especially their proposals on security in polling centres, creating a level-playing field, appointing neutral polling officers and protection of election observers,” Ahmed told bdnews24.com.
However, the commission told BNP that EVM, army deployment and withdrawal of controversial officers will be decided after discussion.
“The EC does not have a plan to deploy the army in local elections. Also, the EVM is a technology legally used in local elections. The BNP is requested to come and see the EVM system in case they have a reservation,” Ahmed said.
He also said there has not been any decision in the EC meeting on SP Harunur Rashid.
“These are legal issues. The commission will decide on controversial officers when and if it receives specific complaints,” said Ahmed.
The BNP delegation was headed by the party’s Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
The BNP has long been demanding army deployment for all elections, an issue that runs counter to the ruling party Awami League’s stance.
CEC Nurul Huda recently said he believes in army deployment in national elections but not in local polls.
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