The Election Commission will seek presidential approval to deploy the Army to maintain law and order during the next parliamentary polls.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz on Monday told reporters: “All law enforcement agencies will be deployed according to the RPO. [We] will also apply to the President for Army deployment this time too to ensure free and fair polls.”

His remarks come at a time when the two major political parties of Bangladesh are at loggerheads over the form of the polls-time dispensation.

Troops were also deployed during the previous national election to maintain law and order.

But they were not needed in the local government elections – several city corporations and by-polls – during the Awami League-led government’s tenure.

The main opposition BNP has always pitched for army deployment to ensure ‘fair polls’ even during city corporation polls.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has already hinted that the election schedule may be announced in November.

Shah Nawaz told reporters that they would seek deployment of army along with other law enforcement forces as the armed forces were not included in the definition of Law Enforcing Agency in the Representation of People Order (RPO).

But he did not make it ‘clear’ when the army would be deployed – after the polls schedule is announced or after the candidates begin their campaign.

“The request will be made considering the situation.”

EC officials said over 500,000 personnel of different law enforcement agencies are needed to maintain order at the 300 constituencies across the country.

At least 50,000 armed forces personnel were also deployed during the ninth general election in 2008.

One EC official said there was no provision in the RPO before 2001for army deployment during the elections. However, troops were deployed at district/thana/Upazila levels to maintain order during each national polls since 1973.

In 2001, ‘Defence Service’ was added to the definition of ‘Law Enforcing Agency’ through an ordinance. But it was annulled in 2009.

Due to that, even after applying to the Home Ministry, the Election Commission did not get army deployed in the polls of Narayanganj City Corporation, Habiganj-1 and Brahmanbaria-3 by-elections during the tenure of the present government. Bdnews24.com