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Troops deployed ahead of Bangladesh election

DHAKA: With only eight days left for Bangladesh’s general elections, the authorities on Saturday deployed the Army to aid the civil administration in ensuring security.

Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda said troop deployment was advanced by four days in view of withdrawal of the state of Emergency, which was lifted on December 17. The troops will be deployed for 12 days, till well after the polling on December 29. “The armed forces will assist other law enforcement agencies in keeping law and order if returning officers seek their assistance,” said a government circular.

The Representation of People Order of 2001 empowers the armed forces to arrest anyone on polling day without a warrant and to act against any activity against electoral code of conduct.

Meanwhile, the two major political alliances have intensified their campaigns across the country. Awami League president Sheikh Hasina urged the people to vote for her alliance for a secular, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh. Pointing to the Khaleda Zia-led four-party alliance, she urged the people not to vote for “corrupt people, black money holders and patrons of terrorists and religious militants.”

“Soon after assuming power, the BNP-Jamaat coalition government looted crores of Taka and siphoned off the money abroad,” she alleged, pointing to BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s son Arafat Rahman Koko who, according to a recent revelation by the national anti-corruption watchdog ACC, holds foreign currencies valued at around Tk.11.43 crore in a Singapore bank.

Ms. Zia wrapped up her campaign in the north, calling upon people to vote for her alliance to usher in development.

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