Staff Reporter :Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday said that the decision regarding the deployment of army during the upcoming city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong would be taken in a day or two. “We met with the law enforcing agencies and heard their opinion. We also asked them to examine the overall situation,” said the CEC while talking to reporters after a close-door meeting with the officials of different law enforcing agencies and ministry concerned in the conference hall of National Election Commission (NEC) in city’s Agargaon area.However, meeting sources said, “Everyone at the meeting opined against deploying army in the polls to three city corporations.” Replying to a question, Kazi Rakibuddin said: “Normally, army is deployed two to three days before the elections. So, we directed the army to get ready if necessary centering the polls.”He said that the commission had been informed of the overall situation by the law enforcement agencies, who said everything was fine till now. “The situation ahead of the city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong does not demand deployment of the armed forces. I will sit with the other election commissioners and decide regarding the matter. Then the final decision on this would be taken after considering the law and order situation in the areas,” the CEC said.He said the commission is observing the situation carefully and asked the Home Ministry to keep a peaceful environment during the election period. “We have instructed the law enforcers to maintain law and order in strong hands during the polls so that no violence could be taken place,” the CEC said.He said that the EC also asked the law enforcement agencies to show its utmost strength to control the law and order if anyone tries to create chaos during the polls.Meanwhile, the RAB’s Additional Director General Col Ziaul Ahsan told reporters after the close-door meeting that, “Everyone at the meeting expressed their opinion against deploying army during the polls in Dhaka and Chittagong.”While justifying his point that there is no need for deployment of army in the upcoming city corporation elections, Col Ziaul said, “As people fear RAB in their action and activities, there is no need for army deployment.” The candidates will be busy trying to win (by persuading voters) and won’t create unrest, the RAB official added.”Anyone who will be involved in any violence will have to pay for it,” Col Ziaul said.All Election Commissioners, Senior Secretary of Home Ministry, EC Secretary, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Principal Staff Officer of Army, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), DG of Ansar and Village Defense Party (FDP), DG of Coast Guard, Additional Commissioner Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, DG of National Security Intelligence (NSI), Chief of Special Branch (SB), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners of Dhaka and Chittagong, concerned police officials, returning officers and assistant returning officers attended the meeting.On the other hand, the BNP and various other quarters have been demanding army deployment to ‘ensure safety and fair elections’.SUJON, an organisation of citizens on Saturday raised similar demand. The Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong City Corporation elections are slated to be held on April 28.
