People asked to deposit firearms
At least 50,000 members of the armed forces will be deployed in the country from December 26, ahead of January 5 parliamentary polls, to maintain law and order.
The soldiers to be drawn from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force will remain on duty until January 9, a high official of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) said.
The members of the forces will do their duty as per the sections 130 and 131 of the Criminal Procedures Act and the regulations and power provided by Article 7 and 10 of Instruction Regarding ‘In Aid to Civil Power’ issued by the Defence Ministry. The army will take position as strike force at nodal points (convenient places to move) in each district, upazila and metropolitan areas.
The AFD has already drawn up a detailed plan on the deployment of forces and their working order on receiving a letter Sunday from the Election Commission, the official added.
The armed forces will stay in different areas setting up their own camps.
The official also informed that the members of the armed forces were protecting highways and controlling traffic as part of their winter exercise across the country.
The troops, who are now on winter exercise, will be pressed into election duty as striking force from December 26. There will be an executive magistrate with each team of the army during the election duty.
Meanwhile, the home ministry has issued a public notice asking people to deposit their licensed firearms and ammunitions to nearby police stations or authorised dealers ahead of the 10th parliamentary election.
The notice, issued yesterday, said the privately-owned legal firearms have to be submitted between December 23 and December 27.
The arms and ammunitions will remain deposited till January 15, the notice added.
-With The Independent input
