Staff Reporter :
Apparently turning down BNP’s demand, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Tuesday said the prevailing situation does not demand deployment of army for the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections slated for December 22.
“The situation for army deployment is yet to appear. As the prevailing law and order situation is better, there is no need for army deployment. And the situation will improve further,” he told journalists after an Election Commission meeting with the high-ups of law enforcement agencies at the NEC auditorium in the city yesterday.
Police, Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh will be on duty during the elections as usual, the CEC said. Seven mayoral candidates, including AL backed Selina Hayat Ivy and BNP blessed Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan, are running for the NCC polls.
BNP continued to demand army deployment for what it said ‘for the sake of a transparent and credible’ election in Narayanganj.
BNP-backed mayoral candidate Shakhawat Hossain Khan also demanded deployment of army during the poll. But the ruling AL-backed candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy, said there is no such need. Replying to a query, the CEC said the members of different law enforcement agencies have been asked to remain on high alert before the voting day to thwart any attempt to capture the polling centre.
“Besides, we have directed the law enforcement agencies to recover illegal arms and arrest criminals in Narayanganj. The drive against illegal arms and criminals is now going on. We have asked them to make their drives more visible ahead of the NCC polls,” he added.
Apart from these, the CEC said the law enforcers have also been asked to restrict the entry of the outsiders.
Replying to another question, he said legal action would be taken against those who violate the code of conducts.
Chaired by the CEC, the meeting was attended by top officials from Police, RAB, BGB, Ansar, Coastguard, the Armed Force Division, intelligence agencies and the Home Ministry. The officials put forward suggestions over the security measures for the elections of NCC and 61 District Councils.
Four Election Commissioners, the EC secretary, returning officers of the elections and the Deputy Commissioner concerned also attended the meeting.
