Bangladesh, Dec 25 :
At least 25,000 military personnel have been deployed in Bangladesh to maintain law and order during the national election on December 30. All the political parties welcomed the move.
Army is deployed in 389 upazilas or sub-districts, while Navy is posted in 18 upazilas. Border Guards Bangladesh is deployed in 87 bordering points, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate said in a statement. The united Opposition, led by former Awami League leader Kamal Hossain, said on behalf of Jatio Oikya Front that the deployment is expected to initiate a “level-playing field”.
Minister of Culture Asaduzzaman Noor of ruling Awami League, told The Hindu that the government “welcomes” the Election Commission (EC)’s decision to deploy armed forces. “The elections are always a sensitive time, when anti-national forces try to create chaos leading to deaths as has happened in the past. Hence, the deployment is essential to supplement the law enforcement agencies, to maintain peace,” he said.
Mr. Hossain said that he hoped the forces will “not play a role against the people or work for particular individuals and groups.” The main constituent of the Jatiyo Oikya Front, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), also welcomed the move. “I’m making an appeal to the Bangladesh Army to ensure equal opportunity for all the candidates and the parties to contest the poll in a fair manner. They should not work for any group or individual in particular,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam, the secretary-general of BNP.
