CEC decision draws flak from civil society
Army personnel will be deployed from December 26 till January 9 to maintain law and order before, during and after the general election, to be held on January 5, chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad announced on Friday. “A total of 154 candidates has already been elected unopposed and elections would be held in 146 constituencies, where the Army would be deployed. The date for deployment of the Army may vary, depending on the situation,” he said.
Ahmad told reporters after a meeting with the top brass of the law enforcement agencies, including police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar, as well as representatives of the armed forces and the 61 returning officers. The meeting was held at the conference room of the National Economic Council in the city.
The CEC said, “The Army
would be deployed across the country along with the other law enforcement agencies, including police, BGB, RAB and Ansar.”
He also added: “A battalion of the Army would be deployed in each district. They would also be deployed in upazilas and thanas as requisitioned by the returning officers.” All the forces on election duty would have magistracy power, he added.
The Army has been deployed under the ‘Instruction Regarding Aid to Civil Power’, Ahmad said. “The Army was deployed in all the elections after 1973. They will also help the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order. The size of the deployment would depend on the ground situation. They would be withdrawn depending on whether the situation improves.”
Asked if the Army would be deployed across the country, the CEC declined to reply.
Asked whether the Army would be deployed after January 9, he said, “For the time being, we don’t feel the necessity of keeping them afterJanuary 9. We will take a decision depending on the circumstances.”
Ahmad further said magistrates would accompany the Army and the BGB, for which the commission has already informed the public administration ministry. The ministry has prepared the list of magistrates.
About the election observers from the European Union, he said, “It depends on the observers. We have not received any information in this regard.”
The CEC further said the police administration has informed the commission that the law and order situation is improving. “We told the police to arrest terrorists and recover illegal arms. The law enforcement agencies are working in this regard. We also insisted on taking measures so that voters can come to the polling stations without fear and go back safely,” he added.
About the candidates’ security, Ahmad said, “We have made arrangements for their security. For those who sought security, we forwarded their petitions to the law enforcement agencies. We told the candidates to directly contact the returning officers and police administration in this regard.”
About the election code of conduct, he said, “We strictly insisted that it be adhered to. Steps would be taken against those who flout the code of conduct.”
About the vulnerable centres, Ahmad said, “That has not been finalised yet. A decision would be taken later.”
Terming the CEC’s remarks as self-contradictory, Badiul Alam Majumder, general secretary of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) said: “The CEC earlier said that the police, RAB and Ansar will be able to conduct the polls peacefully and army deployment is not needed.”
Majumder also said that he could not make out why the Army will be deployed only in 146 constituencies. “I hope the Army deployment will not create any controversy. The Bangladesh Army is our national pride and we don’t want to drag it into any controversy,” he added.
Barrister Rafiq-ul Huq, a senior jurist, told The Independent on Friday night: “It’s a mockery in the name of election. It is a selection and not an election. The EC is trying to justify the election by deploying the Army,” he added.
-With The Independent input
