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Riskier than before

EC wants deployment of army for longer time

PANKAJ KARMAKAR
The Election Commission wants army deployment for a longer period than in the previous polls as it thinks that the ensuing general election poses more risks.
The scene is different this time around as a volatile situation has been prevailing in the political arena. So, army should be deployed well ahead of the polling day to maintain law and order, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said yesterday at a meeting on the preelection law and order.
Army should be deployed much earlier to instil confidence into voters. If the voters are panicked, they will not come to the polling centres, said
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meeting sources quoting the CEC as saying.
Chiefs of different civil and military security and intelligence agencies and top government officials were present at the meeting at the EC secretariat.
EC officials informed the meeting that army was deployed for 12 days in 2008 polls and 15 days in 2001.
A deputy secretary at the EC secretariat, who was present at the meeting, told this correspondent that the EC wants army deployment for more then two weeks.
Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq asked the CEC about the timeframe of army deployment.
The CEC in response said the commission was yet to make the decision in this regard. The EC will inform the PSO about the timeframe later, he added.
The PSO suggested that army might be deployed at the district level initially. Later, the security measures would be beefed up assessing the situation.
Security officials at the meeting said attacks might be made on the religious minorities ahead of the election.
Rab Director General Mokhlesur Rahman suggested that law enforcers should patrol every locality in addition to patrolling the main roads ahead of the polls.
Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Maj Gen (retd) Manzur Ahmad said Ansars should be deployed on a large scale during the election to maintain law and order.
Election commissioners, Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed, chiefs of police, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard were present, among others.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the CEC said the EC hopes that the law and order would improve and it would be possible to
hold the election in a peaceful manner.
"Based on assessments by the law enforcement agencies, we think that the situation would improve," he mentioned.
The decision on the duration of army deployment will be taken at a meeting with the returning officers later, added Rakibuddin.
The meeting with the returning officers will be held after November 13, the last date of withdrawal of nomination papers.
Enquired whether army deployment would be controversial in an election which might be boycotted by the opposition, he said there is nothing in it to be controversial.
The 10th parliamentary election is scheduled for January 5.
FOREIGN OBSERVERS
The EC will invite foreign journalists and polls observers to cover the next general election, said the CEC.
Those who had come to Bangladesh during last election and will contact with the commission will get invitation letters, he mentioned. "We'll arrange special security for them |for-eigners]."
Rakibuddin was talking to newsmen after a meeting with the secretaries of foreign, information and health ministers to draw up the plan on how to assist the foreign observers and journalists.
The EC with the help of law enforcers will remove all the campaign materials like billboards and posters, if these are not removed by the aspirant lawmakers by midnight today, noted the CEC.
Meanwhile, the EC yesterday issued a circular notifying that all the field level government offices, involved in electoral activities, will remain open on public holidays till the polling day.
The Jatiya Party will send a letter to the EC requesting it to extend the December 5 deadline for submission of nomination papers, said party sources.