Deployment of army ‘10 days’ ahead of polls

No further deferral of voting day, says EC

Brushing aside the Jatiya Oikyafront's demand that polls be put off by three weeks, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday (Thursday) said the 11th parliamentary poll will be held on the revised date of December 30. The commission also said that army would be deployed at least 10 days ahead of the national elections. “There is no way to postpone the election date. It will be held on the 30th of December,”  Helal Uddin told journalists at a press conference at Election Bhaban in the capital, after the commission, headed by chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, held a meeting on the topic.

On the army deployment, Helal Uddin said: “The Army will be deployed two to 10 days ahead of election, as mentioned in the morning. Basically, I wanted to convey to assistant returning officers that accommodation has to be made for the Army at least 10 days before the poll. No decision has been taken yet when and how the Army would be deployed.”

A 14-member delegation of the Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, had talks with the Commission on Wednesday about deferment of the next election.

The EC secretary said the commission has a number of functions in January.  “The functions include gazette

publication of election results and by-elections. Besides, there is Biswa Ijtema. It’s not logical and realistic to defer the polls. So, the election will be held as per the revised schedule,” he said.

The EC had first fixed December 23 as the poll date. But when the Jatiya Oikyafront, comprising the BNP and other parties, demanded deferment of the election, the CEC announced December 30 as the fresh date.

When leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront met the CEC on Wednesday demanding postponement of the election by three weeks, Nurul Huda assured them that the commission will let them know about its decision on election delay. Finally, the EC held a meeting yesterday and announced the fresh date.

However, Oikyafront leaders on Wednesday told the media after meeting the EC that their participation in the election will depend on the behaviour of the government and the EC.

At that time, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakrul Isalm Alamgir also said: “The EC has given us a patient hearing. But people and media will see if it’s going to fulfil the demands.”

However, the EC secretary, in reply to a query of journalists, said yesterday: “We will invite foreign observers for the election.”

Earlier, at a meeting with assistant returning officers at Election Bhaban, the EC secretary said the Army would be deployed at least 10 days ahead of the national elections.

“The Army and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed two to 10 days ahead of the general election. Arrangements have to be made for their accommodation. Preparations have to be made for training presiding officers,” he added.

He also instructed them to fix places where election results would be announced and where election materials would be kept.

During the announcement of election schedule on November 8, the CEC, in a televised speech to the nation, said armed forces would be deployed under the rules of Aid to the Civil Power to assist, what is needed, by the civil administration to maintain law and order during elections.

However, the Jatiya Oikyafront has been demanding that magisterial powers be given to the army. But the EC said the Army would be deployed as in previous elections. The EC has not decided whether the Army would be deployed at each centre or not.

Drawing their attention to the clash between the police and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men during collection of nomination forms in the capital, Helal Uddin told the assistant returning officers: “The most important thing is that you have to be alert that there is no show of strength when the aspirant candidates submit nomination papers.”

Instructing the assistant returning officers to play their due role in elections, the EC secretary said the commission is committed to holding free, fair and neutral elections. “If anybody shows any negligence in election duty, stern measures will be taken. If anybody wants to foil the polls, maximum measures have to be taken within the purview of the law,” he added.

Election commissioner Mahbub Talukder also told the assistant returning officers of Barisal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions that negligence in duty will not be tolerated. “If the election is not held in a free, fair and acceptable way, we’ll not be able to show our faces before the world.” As per the election schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers is November 28, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be  on December 2 and the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is December 9.

Deployment of army 10 days ahead of polls

No further deferral of voting day, says EC

Brushing aside the Jatiya Oikyafronts demand that polls be put off by three weeks, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday (Thursday) said the 11th parliamentary poll will be held on the revised date of December 30. The commission also said that army would be deployed at least 10 days ahead of the national elections. There is no way to postpone the election date. It will be held on the 30th of December, Helal Uddin told journalists at a press conference at Election Bhaban in the capital, after the commission, headed by chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, held a meeting on the topic. On the army deployment, Helal Uddin said: The Army will be deployed two to 10 days ahead of election, as mentioned in the morning. Basically, I wanted to convey to assistant returning officers that accommodation has to be made for the Army at least 10 days before the poll. No decision has been taken yet when and how the Army would be deployed. A 14-member delegation of the Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, had talks with the Commission on Wednesday about deferment of the next election. The EC secretary said the commission has a number of functions in January. The functions include gazette publication of election results and by-elections. Besides, there is Biswa Ijtema. Its not logical and realistic to defer the polls. So, the election will be held as per the revised schedule, he said. The EC had first fixed December 23 as the poll date. But when the Jatiya Oikyafront, comprising the BNP and other parties, demanded deferment of the election, the CEC announced December 30 as the fresh date. When leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront met the CEC on Wednesday demanding postponement of the election by three weeks, Nurul Huda assured them that the commission will let them know about its decision on election delay. Finally, the EC held a meeting yesterday and announced the fresh date. However, Oikyafront leaders on Wednesday told the media after meeting the EC that their participation in the election will depend on the behaviour of the government and the EC. At that time, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakrul Isalm Alamgir also said: The EC has given us a patient hearing. But people and media will see if its going to fulfil the demands. However, the EC secretary, in reply to a query of journalists, said yesterday: We will invite foreign observers for the election. Earlier, at a meeting with assistant returning officers at Election Bhaban, the EC secretary said the Army would be deployed at least 10 days ahead of the national elections. The Army and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed two to 10 days ahead of the general election. Arrangements have to be made for their accommodation. Preparations have to be made for training presiding officers, he added. He also instructed them to fix places where election results would be announced and where election materials would be kept. During the announcement of election schedule on November 8, the CEC, in a televised speech to the nation, said armed forces would be deployed under the rules of Aid to the Civil Power to assist, what is needed, by the civil administration to maintain law and order during elections. However, the Jatiya Oikyafront has been demanding that magisterial powers be given to the army. But the EC said the Army would be deployed as in previous elections. The EC has not decided whether the Army would be deployed at each centre or not. Drawing their attention to the clash between the police and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men during collection of nomination forms in the capital, Helal Uddin told the assistant returning officers: The most important thing is that you have to be alert that there is no show of strength when the aspirant candidates submit nomination papers. Instructing the assistant returning officers to play their due role in elections, the EC secretary said the commission is committed to holding free, fair and neutral elections. If anybody shows any negligence in election duty, stern measures will be taken. If anybody wants to foil the polls, maximum measures have to be taken within the purview of the law, he added. Election commissioner Mahbub Talukder also told the assistant returning officers of Barisal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions that negligence in duty will not be tolerated. If the election is not held in a free, fair and acceptable way, well not be able to show our faces before the world. As per the election schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers is November 28, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be on December 2 and the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is December 9.