The army will be not deployed in the election areas as a striking force since they will act as a reserve force staying inside the cantonment during elections to the three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong.
According to a revised letter of the Election Commission sent to the Armed Forces Division on Wednesday, the army will act as a striking force coming out from the cantonment only at the request of returning officers.
The letter says one battalion of the army will perform election duty in each city corporation area for four days from April 26 to 29, EC source confirmed. “They (the army) will actually stay inside the cantonment as reserve a force and will act as striking a force to face the situation following the request of returning officers.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the EC had sent a letter to the Armed Forces Division seeking one battalion of the army for each city corporation during polls to Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation.
In this first letter, the commission said the army would act as reserve and striking force in the three city elections, slated for April 28.
The commission in its meeting on Tuesday decided to deploy the army in the wake of repeated demands from candidates, especially BNP-backed mayoral contenders.
Soon after the decision was taken, Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz told reporters that the army will be deployed in the election areas, who will act as reserve force and striking force.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on the day said though there has been no need for engaging the army in the elections, they have decided to deploy the army in three city corporations for restoring confidence among voters as they are still apprehensive as they have passed a very worrying time recently.
The opposition BNP welcomed the EC move, but said if the army was not given magistracy power, the main goal of engaging the army will not achieved.
In reply to the BNP’s demand, the CEC hinted that magistracy power would not be given to the army arguing that the law does not allow it.
Source: UNB
