The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government has decided to deploy army across the country from December 12, six days ahead of the much-awaited national elections on December 18, to maintain public security.

The deployment will continue till three days after the Upazila elections to be held on December 28 as per the request of the Election Commission (EC).

The EC held a meeting with the officials of law enforcing agencies yesterday and decided to seek army's help from the government to be deployed for 20 days from December 12 to December 31.

"The Election Commission seeks deployment of the army troops a week ahead of the voting day to ensure election security," Commission Secretary M Humayun Kabir told reporters following the security-planning meeting.

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, the two election commissioners Sohul Hosain and Sakhawat Hossain, Director General of BDR Major General Shakil Ahmed, Armed Forces Division Director Brigadier General Kazi Abdus Samad, Home Joint Secretary Maksumul Hakim Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad, Ansar and VDP Director General ATM Amin, M Shams Khan of National Security Intelligence,

Sheikh Mamun Khaled of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, Coast Guard Director General Commodore Maksumul Kader, RAB director general HM Khandakar and Additional IGP Baharul Alam attended the meeting on "9th National Parliamentary Election 2008 and Law and Order" at the auditorium of the EC Secretariat.

The EC Secretary said that the troops would be deployed in aid of the civil administration to look after the pre- and post-election situation.

The Home Ministry would take necessary measures to deploy the forces in line with the election commission's plan to ensure a free, fair and credible election, he said.

Humayun Kabir said that the army would be posted outside the polling centres and act as both striking and reserve force to fend off any poll violence.

The EC secretary said the Home Ministry would soon issue a circular on the deployment of army for policing the polls.

Replying to a query, he said they had asked the finance ministry for election budgets. The budget for law and order maintenance will be tailored as soon as the number of the troops to be posted is determined, he added.

He further said that they would soon sit with the Finance Ministry to settle the matter.

Asked whether they discussed the recovery of illegal arms, Humayun Kabir replied in the negative.

The government on November 3, a day after election schedules were announced, relaxed the state of emergency to allow parties to participate in the election campaign. It also called back the army to the barracks from emergency duties across the country.

On Tuesday, the interim government asked political parties not to hold rallies and processions until November 27.

It also asked the law enforcers to take action against any such violation as a number of parties are holding rallies, taking advantage of a relaxed state of emergency.