Kazi Zahidul Hasan :The Election Commission’s (EC) backtracking from visible deployment of army to guard election time peace has created many misgivings as to what led the Commissions to revise its decision within 24 hours. With the rescinding of army presence during election, analysts fear that the chance of a free, fair election in a peaceful environment has become a distance cry. The EC’s announcement on Tuesday said three battalions of troops would be deployed for election duty in three City Corporations- two in metropolis Dhaka and one in Chittagong city. But later it said revised the decision saying that the troops would remain in the Cantonments and work only as a strike force if and when such a necessity arises. Analysts fear that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) may have revised the decision on pressure from the government as most policy makers don’t want to see a role for army in civil affairs and thus want to keep it out from election policing. Commenting on the matter Dr Tofail Ahmed, a local government expert said people were encouraged by the EC’s announcement that army would give security to voters and candidates during election. But a retreat from the decision has returned fear to them again as to whether they would be able to vote freely in peace. He said “I don’t want to make any comment on army deployment because it’s only the EC’s jurisdiction. But if we analyze the present context, the people wanted to see army on election duty to remove their anxiety over possible polls violence,” said Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary General of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) gave similar views saying army presence could make the polls peaceful and violence free. Otherwise he fears powerful elements may take the polling centres hostage to make a free and fair polls impossible. He said “There was an urgent need for presence of army during the polls help ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections to Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporations. It will also check occupation of polling centres and snatching of ballot papers and ballot boxes.” He said the incidents of vote rigging, ballot box and ballot paper hijacking, violence and killing occurred during the Upazila Parishad elections and such incidences amply justify army deployment in city polls.”As the army presence will not be visible, the purpose of holding mayoral election fairly and peacefully will not be possible,” he commented.
