The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The army will be deployed across the country from December 18, two days earlier than the scheduled, date sensing sabotage attacks in the intervening period as the state of emergency goes on December 17 ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for December 29.

Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) has decided to deploy army from December 20.

Meanwhile, President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday signed an ordinance repealing the Emergency Power Ordinance 2007 with effect from December 17 in line with the government announcement in this regard.

Talking to reporters, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday said the precautionary measure to deploy army in advance is being taken in view of the reports in print and electronic media as well as intelligence agencies.

He however said that army troops would start rolling out from December 18, two days ahead of their deployment at the designated stations on duty for the parliamentary elections.

The President has signed the ordinance at 5:00pm, according to Secretary of the President's Office Mohammad Sirajul Islam.

The ordinance was signed in line with an earlier government announcement that the state of emergency would be lifted entirely from December 17 ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary polls scheduled for December 29.

The government last week announced that the state of emergency would go on December 17 while the certain clauses of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) barring street rallies and marches were lifted on December 12 to facilitate electioneering.

The President also signed an order for lifting the emergency power rules, which is to be sent to the home ministry while the order for repealing Emergency Power Ordinance, would go to the law ministry for required actions.

The President promulgated the state of emergency on January 11, last year and the present Caretaker Government was installed on the following day.

Election Commissioner Sakhawat Hossain said the EC asked the Ministry of Establishment to employ judicial magistrates to deliver spot judgments against the violators of the strict electoral code of conduct.

About the upazila polls, he said the candidates contesting the January 22 local-body elections should not go on campaign before January 1.

The Election Commissioner urged all candidates to abide by the electoral code of conduct during electioneering, particularly refraining from holding rallies and meetings blocking streets and roads.

He said the chiefs of the political parties can hold their meetings at any time. "There's no timetable for the party chiefs," he said.

Regarding the allegations of violating the electoral code of conduct, Sakhawat Hossain said the EC would take proper steps against the violators if recommendation comes to it.

Replying to a question about the 'No Vote' he said the system of keeping the no-vote provision would preserve the citizens' right.

"They (voters) will cast 'No Vote' if they don't like any candidate," he observed.