The Election Commission on Monday decided to deploy Bangladesh Army personnel across the country for 13 days from December 29 on the occasion of the January 7 general election.
Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, principal staff officer of Armed Forces Division, made the disclosure after a meeting with the Election Commission at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka.
He said that the deployment of army troops would continue until January 10.
Waker said that a preliminary discussion was taken on Monday, but no detailed work plan had yet been outlined.
Regarding the number of army personnel to be deployed, he said that there had not been a specific discussion about it.
He said that the deployment would align with the Election Commission’s directives and requirements, he said.
Troops were deployed in past elections to maintain security across the country.
During the 2018 general election, a total of 414 army platoons, each comprising 30 personnel, were deployed across 389 upazilas. Additionally, 48 navy platoons were deployed in 18 costal upazilas during the polls.
On November 15, chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced the polls schedule fixing the polling date as January 7.
Most major opposition parties including the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party are boycotting the polls.
New Age
