Army to be deployed on December 29 for 13 days

More than 35,000 army personnel were deployed during the 11th parliamentary election in 2018 to aid civil administration.

The army will likely be deployed across the country for 13 days starting December 29 to ensure security before, during, and after the 12th parliamentary elections slated for January 7.

 Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, disclosed the information to the media after a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) on Monday. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal chaired the meeting, which was held at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

 “It has been discussed that the army will be deployed for 13 days from December 29 to January 10, centring the election. The Election Commission will request that the president permit this. The president will then make the final decision,” Waker-Uz-Zaman said.

 More than 35,000 army personnel were deployed during the 11th parliamentary election in 2018 to aid civil administration.

 “If there is more need this time, it will be deployed accordingly. Of course, there is always preparation. Last time, the deployment was in 388 upazilas in the country. The Election Commission wants the army to be deployed. There has been a discussion on how to deploy. We will help as they ask for help,” the PSO said.

 He also said the EC wants a free and fair election. “If the armed forces are deployed, we must assist the EC.”

 Earlier, EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said the EC has held discussions with the PSO of the Armed Forces, the Public Security Department, and the senior secretaries of the Defence Ministry.

 “There was a discussion about how the armed forces can help in the upcoming election, which is scheduled to be held on January 7,” he said.