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No troops for N'ganj polls

CEC says situation 'better than normal'

Star Report
Law and order is normal and there is no threat of untoward incidents ahead of the Narayanganj City Corporation polls, according to the intelligence and law enforcement agencies and civil administration.
In response, the Election Commission (EC) has decided not to deploy army during the polls, though the BNP has been repeatedly demanding that.
However, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad directed law enforcers to put up best efforts, even use firearms if need be, to resist occupying polling stations and check other electoral irregularities.
The directives came at a meeting among the EC, senior officials of intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the administration at the National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium in the capital yesterday.
The NCC elections will be held on December 22. Seven mayoral candidates, 156 councillor aspirants for general wards and 38 for reserved (women) wards are contesting the polls.
The CEC asked law enforcers to beef up patrolling and make it visible to voters, meeting sources toldThe Daily Star.
Such an environment must be ensured that no voter could say '1 could not cast my vote;' thesources quoting the CEC said.
Expressing dissatisfaction over law enforcers' role in some previous polls to local government bodies, the CEC said he could not understand how polling stations were occupied in presence of law enforcers.
He added a few untoward incidents occurred in some past elections that caused the EC to face criticism, said the sources.
At the meeting, officials of intelligence agencies said currently there was no threat of any untoward incident ahead of the election, although they kept vigil to foil any such attempts.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Director General Benazir Ahmed said pre-election atmosphere is peaceful.
After the meeting, the CEC at a formal press briefing told reporters, "Law and order in Narayanganj is normal. The situation will improve further. No such situation has been created that requires army deployment."
Police, Rab, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) would be on duty during the elections as usual, hesaid. IVY'S CLAIM
Ruling Awami League's mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy yesterday said she did not oppose deployment of army and it was the decision of the EC, reports a correspondent from Narayanganj.
"I want a free and fair election. I do not want any extra favour from the EC,” she told reporters while conducting a campaign in the city's Chashara area.
She also claimed that all candidates including the BNP's mayor aspirant were conducting electoral campaign freely. FAKHRUL'S CAMPAIGN
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the future of the country and next parliamentary election would depend on the results of the NCC polls.
"People are deprived of their voting rights. We believe our candidate will win as people have taken a position in favour of the BNP-nominated mayoral candidate," he said while talking to reporters during electioneering in favour of Shakhawat Hossain.
Led by Fakhrul, a team of BNP-led 20-party alliance carried out the campaign in different areas including Kalibazar, Galachipa and Chashara.