No army deployment for civic polls: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has made it clear that the Army will not be deployed for Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections on May 15. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) recently demanded Army deployment, arguing that the presence of the Army would create a convenient environment for people to vote without fear. The EC said yesterday (Thursday) that generally the Army is not deployed for local body elections. So, there is no plan for it in the civic polls.

However, the commission maintained that there would be adequate number of other law enforcers like the police, RAB, BGB and Ansar. The EC secretary, Md Helal Uddin Ahmad, yesterday told journalists about the decision on the Army after the commission’s meeting with law enforcers at Election Bhaban in the capital.

Among others, chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda and inspector general of police Jabed Patwari, along with senior officials of RAB, BGB and Ansar, were present.

Md Helal Uddin Ahmad also said that all garments factories in Gazipur will be closed on May 15 and the EC would hold talks with the Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTME) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in this regard.

In reply to a query of how the media will cover news at the polling stations, Helal Uddin said the EC will hold a view-exchange meeting with the media.  However, the date has not been fixed yet, he added.

“The EC has thought of creating a better understanding between election officials and the media,” he said. About the two civic polls, Helal Uddin said: “We are hopeful of holding fair elections. Law enforcers have no prior information about any untoward incident during the polls.”

No army deployment for civic polls: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has made it clear that the Army will not be deployed for Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections on May 15. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) recently demanded Army deployment, arguing that the presence of the Army would create a convenient environment for people to vote without fear. The EC said yesterday (Thursday) that generally the Army is not deployed for local body elections. So, there is no plan for it in the civic polls. However, the commission maintained that there would be adequate number of other law enforcers like the police, RAB, BGB and Ansar. The EC secretary, Md Helal Uddin Ahmad, yesterday told journalists about the decision on the Army after the commissions meeting with law enforcers at Election Bhaban in the capital. Among others, chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda and inspector general of police Jabed Patwari, along with senior officials of RAB, BGB and Ansar, were present. Md Helal Uddin Ahmad also said that all garments factories in Gazipur will be closed on May 15 and the EC would hold talks with the Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTME) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in this regard. In reply to a query of how the media will cover news at the polling stations, Helal Uddin said the EC will hold a view-exchange meeting with the media. However, the date has not been fixed yet, he added. The EC has thought of creating a better understanding between election officials and the media, he said. About the two civic polls, Helal Uddin said: We are hopeful of holding fair elections. Law enforcers have no prior information about any untoward incident during the polls.