The Election Commission (EC) has sent a letter to the Armed Forces Department asking for army deployment in the polling area from December 29 to January 10 to maintain law and order in the parliamentary elections. This information was informed in a letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary Atiyar Rahman on Monday.
It is said in the letter that the 12th National Parliament election will be held on January 7. The Election Commission has taken all possible legal and administrative measures to conduct elections in a free, fair, impartial and peaceful manner. All preparations have been made to maintain the law and order situation during the election.
The letter also states that in aid to the civil power to ensure peace and order control before polling, on the day of polling and after polling, 300 constituencies of Bangladesh will be armed from December 29 to January 10 (including travel time) in the 12th National Assembly elections. The Election Commission has taken a decision that the forces will be deployed.
It is also said that in view of the discussions with the Election Commission, a small advance team of armed forces can be sent to each district to collect basic information on the communication system, physical infrastructure and electoral environment conditions of the constituency a few days before the election.
Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal requested the deployment of army in the election yesterday (December 17) in a meeting with the President at Bangabhaban. In the meeting, the President is said to have given a positive nod regarding the deployment of the army.
Earlier, the Election Commission had a meeting with the Principal Staff of the Army on the evening of December 11 to discuss the deployment of the army.
