The armed forces will work with law enforcers to curb any disturbance during the January 5 election, according to a government circular issued on Sunday.
Sources said the home ministry had circulated guidelines on maintaining law and order to the chiefs of all security agencies. “The officers in each district should be fully conversant with the procedure for calling military aid. They should have a clear understanding of the roles of the army and the police in emergencies. Plans to meet likely contingencies should be prepared by the local civil authorities and the local military commanders in fullest collaboration,” the circular said.
“During any disturbance, whether minor or serious, military officers and their civil counterparts, including police, must cooperate with one another as closely as possible,” it added.
Members of the armed forces have been deployed in all the 146 constituencies since December 26 to maintain law and order ahead of the 10th parliamentary polls. The personnel drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force will remain on duty till January 9, a top official of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) said.
The members of the armed forces will do their duty as per Sections 130 and 131 of the Criminal Procedures Act, and the regulations and power provided under Articles 7 and 10 of the Instruction Regarding In Aid to Civil Power issued by the defence ministry.
The army will take up positions as the strike force at nodal points (convenient places to move) in each district, upazila and metropolitan area.
Ballots will be cast at 37,711 polling centres across the country. As per the Election Commission’s plans, a team of 15 members of the armed forces will be deployed in each polling centre outside the metropolitan area, and a 16-member team in each vulnerable centre outside the metropolitan area.
-With The Independent input
